IDS Sabah targets poverty reduction with 135 development projects
Azizah (seated, centre) speaking to reporters at the IDS Sabah Raya open house, flanked by Ramzah to her left and Flovia.
KOTA KINABALU (April 25): The Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah has planned or is implementing 135 projects this year across various sectors to support the state's development.
IDS Sabah chairwoman Datuk Seri Azizah Mohd Dun said the initiatives, which cover areas such as the economy, health, education, environment and women's empowerment, are progressing steadily.
One of the key efforts highlighted is IDS' ongoing study on Sabah's eight poorest districts.
The study for four districts — Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Pitas, and Ranau — is halfway complete, with findings already submitted to the relevant authorities. The remaining districts are currently being assessed, with completion expected later this year.
Azizah outlined several factors contributing to poverty in these areas. One major issue is the reliance of fishermen on middlemen to sell their catch, reducing their earnings while brokers often take a larger share.
'We need to find ways for government agencies to support fishermen, not only in catching fish but also in becoming entrepreneurs and business owners,' she said at IDS Sabah's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Wisma IDS, Kepayan, yesterday.
She also pointed to accessibility as a recurring problem. Many rural communities face challenges in transporting goods due to poor infrastructure and remote locations, leading to high transportation costs.
'Even though villagers may own land, they can't fully utilise it to generate income, leaving them stuck. Infrastructure feasibility must be improved as part of our poverty eradication efforts,' Azizah said.
She further emphasized the impact of limited accessibility on education. Many rural families struggle to send their children to school, which contributes to the continued cycle of poverty.
'We are paying serious attention to this issue,' she added.
Around 300 people attended the IDS Sabah Raya open house, which was co-hosted by IDS Sabah, the Meteorological Department, and the Environmental Protection Department.
Also present were IDS Sabah CEO Datuk Ts Dr Ramzah Dambul and State Assistant Minister of Community Development and People's Wellbeing Datuk Flovia Ng.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Sabah named ‘Malaysia's Most Outstanding State' for 2024
Azman Ujang, a chief judge of the awards, highlighted Sabah's potential in economic development and environmental sustainability. (Wikipedia pic) PETALING JAYA : Sabah has made its mark by being named 'Malaysia's Most Outstanding State' for 2024 at the International Business Review (IBR) Asean Awards 2025. Former Petagas assemblyman James Ligunjang said that for the first time, the awards extended recognition to state governments, acknowledging exceptional leadership and accomplishments at the state level alongside corporate achievements. Ligunjang said in a statement that under chief minister Hajiji Noor's leadership, Sabah had received the highest honour for implementing the Sabah Maju Jaya development framework. The framework centres on four pillars: championing Sabah's rights, leading with integrity and efficiency, fostering development aligned with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, and maintaining unity among the state's diverse communities. He said key achievements that contributed to the recognition include an increase in federal special grants from RM26 million in 2022 to RM600 million in 2025, and a 47% rise in foreign tourist arrivals, boosting the state's revenue. Other highlights include a substantial stake in oil and gas revenues from the commercial cooperation agreement with Petronas, yielding over RM3 billion in 2023, as well as foreign investments soaring from RM132 million in 2023 to over RM1 billion in 2024. Ligunjang also cited progress on the Pan-Borneo Highway, linking major cities and rural areas, as a key achievement by the state. He said that Azman Ujang, a chief judge of the awards, also highlighted Sabah's potential in economic development and environmental sustainability. 'He noted increased foreign investment interest, with investments rising from RM132.7 million in 2023 to RM1.07 billion in 2024, and praised the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park's record-high occupancy rate of 90% with 288 active investors. 'Sabah also achieved the highest manufacturing sector growth rate in Malaysia at 4.4% in 2023,' Ligunjang said. He said Azman had also emphasised the state's focus on human capital development and environmental conservation, with 62% of Sabah's land, amounting to 4.6 million hectares, declared free of logging, as part of long-term sustainability strategies. The official awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on July 19, at the Sabah International Convention Centre, Kota Kinabalu, with Hajiji expected to attend as an honorary guest. Ligunjang said the award was announced by the event's secretariat, which also honoured Negeri Sembilan as Malaysia's 'Most Progressive State' for 2024.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Smart card aid eases financial burden for Pitas students
KOTA KINABALU: For 15-year-old Alexa Grace Zulkeplee, every ringgit counts. A Form Three student at SMK Kanibongan in Pitas, she receives a modest monthly allowance of RM40 from her father, who operates a small farm. "On school days, I usually spend just RM1 for food. That gets me through until lunch, which is provided at the hostel," she said. As the fourth of five siblings, she's always been mindful of her family's financial constraints, purchasing only essentials from the school cooperative. Thanks to a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme by Sabah-owned oil and gas company SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd, she and 631 other students now benefit from a smart card assistance scheme. The project, organised with the MyKasih Foundation, provides RM100 in monthly aid credited to smart cards, functioning like debit cards for purchasing school supplies and food items. The initiative aims to ease the financial burden on B40 families and reduce barriers to education. Finance Minister and SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (back row, third left), SMJE chief executive officer Dr Dionysia Kibat (back row, fourth right) and MyKasih Foundation deputy deputy chairman Jeffrey Perera (back row, third right) were all smiles with the smart card recipients during a simple launch at SMK Kanibongan in Pitas on Tuesday (June 10). "I am really happy to receive this card because we don't have much. It helps lessen the burden on my parents," Alexa said. Recognising Pitas as one of Sabah's most impoverished districts, the programme targets four primary and three secondary schools, benefiting over 2,000 students from low-income households. "Pitas remains one of the most underdeveloped areas in Sabah. Roads and infrastructure are lacking, but development takes time. "The key lies in our attitude, whether we give up or rise to the challenge," said Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, also SMJE chairman. Sharing his own rural upbringing, Masidi recounted how his family had no roads and the nearest secondary schools were in other districts. Despite the challenges, he saw them as opportunities to escape poverty. "Fate is in God's hands. God gave each of us a brain, a set of eyes, hands, and legs. God also gave us the ability to think and shape our own destiny. Finance Minister and SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun presenting the smart card to one of the SMK Kanibongan recipients, while SMJE chief executive officer Dr Dionysia Kibat (second right) and MyKasih Foundation deputy deputy chairman Jeffrey Perera (right) look on. "Do not be ashamed of being poor, but be ashamed only if you are not working hard to rise out of it," he said. This collaboration between SMJE and the MyKasih Foundation in Pitas is the first of its kind. Student affairs coordinator Ismail Alibah noted that students were selected based on need, with applications verified by MyKasih. Of the 660 applicants, 632 were chosen. Those not selected typically came from families with higher incomes. The smart cards can be used only at authorised outlets for essentials, with transactions monitored to ensure proper use. The CSR initiative will run until the end of the year, with SMJE estimating expenditure of around RM1 million. Its effectiveness will be reviewed to decide on continuation or expansion to other districts. Besides SMK Kanibongan, the participating schools include SMK Bongkol, SMK Telaga, and four primary schools: SK Dallas, SK Kanibongan, SK Sosop, and SK Datong. Kibat, SMJE's CEO, emphasised the importance of investing in people, especially children, as the true wealth of Sabah. "We look forward to working with like-minded organisations and individuals to expand this programme further," she said.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Sabah Customs seize RM16.6m worth of smuggled goods at Sepanggar Port in May
KOTA KINABALU, June 11 — The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Sabah) seized RM16.6 million worth of smuggled goods in a series of raids at Sepanggar Port here last month. Sabah Customs Department Assistant Director General Siti Mang yesterday said the items seized between May 14 and 29 included liquor, frozen chicken and rice. In the first case, Customs officers inspected 33 containers and discovered 659,856 litres of various types of liquor worth RM3.97 million. The estimated duties and taxes amounted to RM11.86 million. In a second raid on May 16, officers inspected a container carrying 28 tonnes of frozen chicken valued at RM233,400. The duties and taxes were estimated at RM93,360. None of the frozen chicken products had a valid import permit. On May 29, officers uncovered 150 tonnes of fragrant and glutinous rice worth RM356,250, with duties and taxes totaling RM142,500. All cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967. Siti said smuggling activities not only cause significant revenue loss but also pose risks to national security and public well-being. She urged the public to cooperate with the Customs Department by reporting any smuggling activities via the Customs Toll-Free line at 1-800-88-8855. — The Borneo Post
