Over 180,000 Sabah communities benefit from university student volunteer programs
Aaron Ago Dagang
KOTA KINABALU (Apr 28): A total of 189,064 communities in Sabah have benefitted from 1,577 volunteer projects by university students selected from public and private universities, teacher training institutes, polytechnics and community colleges.
National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said this year was the ninth year Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa ran the projects, with 28 missions since 2015 involving 793 students at 50 locations in Sabah.
'All the volunteers today will be appointed as unity agents to strengthen the spirit of togetherness and to instil the value of tolerance and encourage active community participation to build a united and harmonious country,' he said at the close of MADANI in Service: Uni Students Volunteer Mission to Sabah at the Sabah Youth and Sports Complex (Federal) here Monday, in the presence of National Unity Ministry secretary-general cum Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa deputy chairman 1, Datuk Ruji Ubi.
Aaron Ago said this year's volunteer mission, from April 12 to 30, involved 100 students placed at seven areas, – Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Banggi and Kampung Loktohog in Kudat, Kampung Ongkilan, Kota Marudu; Kampung Mangkulat, Kota Belud; Kampung Lohan, Ranau; Kampung Kipouvo, Penampang and Kampung Merotai Besar, Kalabakan – to conduct projects such as the construction of a 200-metre covered pedestrian and wheelchair walkway for special programme students at Sekolah Kebangsaan (Sk) Loktohog, Banggi Kudat.
The project cost RM20,000 and would benefit 108 students compared to a the cost of a tender at RM118,000, which included logistics costs to Pulau Banggi.
Meanwhile, in SK Merotai Besar, Tawau, an additional food plan dining area was renovated to benefit 1,060 pupils at a cost of RM75,000 compared to the estimated RM200,000 cost of a tender, Aaron said.
'Student volunteer missions are an important platform as it serves as grounds for national integration for students of various backgrounds to come together for a greater goal,' he added. – Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
21 minutes ago
- Daily Express
Increase manpower for Pantas: Tangau
Published on: Thursday, June 12, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 12, 2025 Text Size: Some villagers looking at the land area in Tuaran which have been gazetted under Pantas. KIULU: Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau urged the State Government to increase manpower for the Native Land Services Management Programme of Sabah (Pantas) under the Department of Lands and Surveys (JTU). He said he was informed that the number of personnel in the Pantas Survey Unit has decreased from 60 people — originally organised into 12 teams of five members each — to only 40 people in eight teams of five members each. Advertisement 'The documentation team, which once had eight personnel, has only three now,' he said while officiating a Pantas dialogue programme at Kg Lokos Hall, here. He voiced concern that the shortage of manpower would affect the use of Federal Government funding amounting to RM100 million (RM20 million annually) allocated under the 12th Malaysia Plan from 2021 to 2025. According to JTU sources, only RM68 million has been spent - RM20 million in 2021; RM6.97 million in 2022; RM10 million in 2023; RM20 million in 2024; and RM12 million projected for 2025 — falling short of the RM100 million allocation, leaving RM31 million unused. As MP, Madius said, he consistently raised the issue in the Dewan Rakyat to advocate for increased federal allocations to ensure titles can be issued for Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands. 'However, if JTU lacks the capacity to implement the programme, then all our efforts will be in vain. 'Overall, the people of Sabah are grateful to both the Federal and State Governments for implementing the Pantas programme. 'Since its inception in 2011 up to 2025, the programme has benefitted 84,614 customary landowners across Sabah, covering a total area of 484,025.451 acres,' he said. Madius said the Tuaran Parliamentary Service Centre would submit proposals for several more villages to be included in the Pantas land survey initiative. Also present at the event were Kiulu Sub-district Chief OKK Kumin Gapai, Kotunuan Lama Village Chief Akim Kuling, Lokos Village Chief Steven Kimbin and Kg. Lokos Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) Chairman Aloysius Wong, along with representatives from JTU. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
ACCCIM: Consider timing of expanded SST
KUALA LUMPUR: The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (Acccim) says it supports the expanded Sales and Services Tax (SST) to strengthen the country's fiscal's position. But there must be careful consideration of the timing and sequencing of measures to ensure they do not unduly burden businesses, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), it added. Ultimately, increased business costs can lead to higher consumer inflation, according to Acccim president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng. Ng said the expansion of the SST at a time of the evolving US tariff policy uncertainty and potential global economic slowdown would contribute to domestic economic and business conditions uncertainty. "With businesses already facing rising operating costs, implementing expanded SST could further burden businesses with increased costs. "Ultimately, increased business costs, if not absorbed, would be passed onto consumers, potentially dampen discretionary consumer spending due to higher prices of non-essential goods and a wider range of taxed services." Ng added that the service tax on rental and leasing in particular would result in higher operating cost for many businesses given a low threshold of exemption from paying service tax for MSMEs with annual sales below RM500,000. "In this regard, we appeal to the government to consider deferring the implementation of the expanded SST to a later date, when macroeconomic conditions are more certain. "It must be noted that the deferment of e-invoicing implementation for businesses with annual income or sales between RM1 million and RM5 million (Phase IV) from July 1, 2025 to Jan 1, 2026 reflects the government's acknowledgment and consideration of businesses' concerns regarding its impact on operating costs," he said. Acccim also called for a review of the threshold exemption from the SST expansion, to be raised higher to RM2 million annual sales, to relieve the burden on more micro and small businesses.
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Expedite flood aid distribution in Miri, MP urges Deputy Premier
Chiew shows the letter urging the expedited distribution of flood aid to victims in Miri. MIRI (June 12): Miri MP Chiew Choon Man has urged Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas to review and expedite the distribution of flood relief aid following growing complaints from victims in his constituency who have yet to receive the assistance. In a formal letter addressed to the Deputy Premier, Chiew highlighted the devastating impact of the early 2025 floods, which he described as among the worst in Sarawak's history. Thousands of residents in Miri suffered extensive property damage and income loss. He noted that while the federal government had allocated Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) amounting to RM1,000 per family in March this year, many flood victims ― both those who took shelter at Temporary Evacuation Centres (PPS) and those who did not ― have reported not receiving the promised aid. 'My office has received numerous complaints and grievances that, to date, many victims in the Miri parliamentary area have not received the aid. They are in urgent need of financial support to restore their homes and basic needs,' Chiew wrote in his letter. To address the issue, the MP proposed several measures for the Deputy Premier's consideration: Chiew suggested implementing a phased disbursement model, similar to the approach adopted by the Johor government, which began issuing aid in stages shortly after the disaster. He also called for the establishment of a transparent appeal mechanism for victims who may have been overlooked or have yet to receive any feedback on their applications. Additionally, Chiew expressed his willingness to work with the Sarawak Government and other MPs from the state to request additional funding from the federal government, should the current allocation prove insufficient. The letter also included a copy of the official statement made during the Dewan Rakyat's Special Chamber earlier this year, where Chiew and several Sarawak MPs had raised the urgency of post-flood recovery efforts. 'I extend my appreciation for your continued commitment to assisting disaster victims,' Chiew added, urging immediate cooperation between state and federal authorities to ease the burden on affected residents. Chiew's appeal underscores growing public frustration over the pace of flood aid distribution in Sarawak and highlights broader concerns over disaster relief coordination between federal and state agencies. Chiew Choon Man douglas uggah embas flood aid miri
