KOTA KINABALU: Star leader Datuk Kalakau Untol (
pic) has backed Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s pledge to abolish education loans for Sabahans under PTPTN and Yayasan Sabah.
Kalakau, in a statement on Wednesday, said the proposal is timely as many graduates in the state are struggling with debt and limited job prospects.
He urged both government and opposition leaders to avoid politicising the issue and to focus on easing financial burdens faced by young people.
Kalakau noted that Sabah continues to record the country’s highest unemployment rate at 7.7%, with over 165,000 people actively seeking work.
He highlighted that many graduates are underemployed and earn low starting salaries, making student debt a significant obstacle in starting their adult lives.
Shafie has pledged that Warisan, if returned to power, will eliminate educational debts for Sabahans, a move that has drawn both praise and financial concerns.
Kalakau said debt relief should be seen as an investment in the future of Sabah’s youth, calling on all parties to unite in finding long-term solutions to youth debt and unemployment.
