Anwar: Federal-state collaboration to empower Sabah youth in 0&G sector
KOTA KINABALU: Collaboration between the federal and state governments in equipping Sabah's youth with skills through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the oil and gas sector is key to meeting the industry's current and future demands.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said all relevant stakeholders — particularly universities and TVET institutions — must actively support and participate in this initiative.
"Our focus must now shift to Sabah's youth. Universities, TVET providers, and both state and federal agencies must be more flexible by opening up opportunities for them to enrol in TVET programmes. Take charge of parts of these programmes and begin training them immediately.
"Even if they do not graduate with formal ministry-endorsed certificates, these can be company-issued qualifications tied directly to industry needs," he said.
Anwar said that training should be conducted by the relevant institutions or companies themselves, ensuring it met quality standards and, more importantly, the specific requirements of targeted industries.
"If a company needs 200 graduates from a particular institution to fill roles, let the company handle the training. The priority is industry readiness," he said.
He made these remarks during the launch ceremony of the first phase of the EsteelEnterprise Sabah Sdn Bhd project at the Sipitang Oil & Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP), held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) today.
Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation (SOGDC) chairman and SOGIP manager Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, and Qhazanah Sabah Bhd chairman Dr Yusof Yacob.
Anwar also stressed the importance of preparing the next generation of workers with proper training and early industry exposure so that they were ready to contribute meaningfully in their respective fields.
"There must be no compromise. Do not burden young people with excessive bureaucracy or technical red tape. You must prioritise their future," he said.
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