Expand TVET to rural Sabah to curb youth migration - IDS chief
KOTA KINABALU (July 9): Human resource development initiatives must not be limited to urban areas but should also reach remote and rural communities across Sabah, said Datuk Dr Ramzah Dambul, Chief Executive Officer of the Sabah Institute for Development Studies (IDS).
'According to the 2020 Census, approximately 45.4% of Sabah's 3.9 million population reside in rural areas. This clearly highlights the need for human capital development to focus on rural communities to avoid lopsided development,' he said.
Speaking at the Sabah Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Symposium 2025 held at the Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort on Wednesday, Dr Ramzah stressed that TVET should no longer be viewed as a secondary option but as a key driver in empowering rural youth.
'TVET plays a crucial role in producing a generation equipped not only with technical skills but also capable of creating jobs — such as rural entrepreneurs in agrotechnology, community-based tourism and innovative crafts,' he said.
He noted that according to the 2023 Sabah Labour Force Survey, youth labour force participation (aged 15–24) stood at 36.8%, while youth unemployment in the state was 11.5%, higher than the national average of 10.7%.
Dr Ramzah said the high cost of living and lack of skilled job opportunities have pushed more young Sabahans to migrate to Peninsular Malaysia. Citing the 2022 Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) report, he said nearly 195,000 Sabahans — mostly rural youth — now live and work in the Peninsula.
'We cannot allow Sabah to remain an 'exporter' of young labour. It is time for TVET to become a catalyst for building quality job opportunities at home,' he stressed.
Referencing the 2024 Sabah Jobseeker Aspirations Survey, Dr Ramzah said 70% of young jobseekers rejected local jobs due to low salary offers. Entry-level salaries in Sabah's technical and vocational sectors range between RM1,200 and RM1,500, significantly lower than the Klang Valley's RM2,000 and above.
He added that over 58% of survey respondents had not received training aligned with industry demands, revealing a major skills mismatch.
'With Sabah now moving towards industrialisation, as reflected by the RM10.9 billion in approved investments during the first quarter of 2025, we need a skilled workforce to match. For instance, foreign investor Kibing offered 5,000 job opportunities, but most positions remained unfilled due to skill gaps — some had to be sent to China for training,' he said.
He emphasized the need to strengthen the TVET ecosystem, citing the establishment of the Sabah TVET Council as a positive step. 'But to be truly effective, the Council must act as an integrative platform linking the state government, federal agencies, institutions, industries and communities,' he said.
Dr Ramzah also highlighted the outdated condition of training equipment, with 67% of tools in Sabah's skills institutes being over 10 years old, limiting training quality.
'Consistent investment in training facilities and instructor upskilling must be a priority. We also need a transparent system to track TVET graduates and measure programme effectiveness,' he added.
He called for inclusivity in TVET programmes, particularly targeting rural youth, women, and the B40 group.
'Only 27% of TVET students in Sabah are women, and participation from interior areas remains low,' he said, referencing the 2023 Sabah Human Capital Development Report.
'Sabah's unique geography, rural fishing and farming economies, and ethnic crafts should be harnessed through locally tailored TVET programmes,' he said.
Also present at the event were Deputy Chief Minister II and Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Joachim Gunsalam, and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif.
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