Latest news with #SMJPlan
Daily Express
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Workshop empowers women
Published on: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 Published on: Tue, Aug 12, 2025 Text Size: At the officiation of the Sabah Women's Lab Workshop. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Women's Lab Workshop (Phase Two, Incubator Lab) has been described as an important platform to empower women in the State, in line with the direction of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan 2021-2025. Sabah Minister of Community Development and People's Wellbeing, Datuk James Ratib, said the participants' involvement in the workshop reflects a strong commitment to gaining knowledge, skills and self-competitiveness. Advertisement 'Workshops like this are not only a space to gain knowledge and share experiences, but also strengthen collaboration networks, exchange views, and spark constructive ideas. 'I hope all participants will make full use of the input received during this workshop to generate innovation and create a positive impact in their respective fields,' he said when officiating the workshop on Tuesday. According to him, the programme, jointly organised by the Sabah Women's Affairs Department (Jhewa) and the Sabah Women's Advisory Council (MPWS), deserves support as it fosters the development of women leaders with integrity, empathy and a strong emphasis on social justice. He added that empowering women is also crucial to ensuring more quality female representation in public administration and politics, ultimately shaping policies that are more sensitive to women's needs. 'The organisation of this workshop is also aligned with the principles of inclusivity and equal opportunity, which are among the core focuses of the SMJ Plan. 'It aims to improve the well-being of the people through competitive development involving all layers of society, including young women and the B40 group,' he said. James explained that the women's empowerment programme consists of several phases, including the Sabah Women's Leader Symposium, scheduled for Aug 29, which will be officiated by the Sabah Chief Minister and attended by about 3,000 guests. 'All 75 workshop participants will be invited to attend the symposium and will automatically become part of the Glow @ Sabah Women Leader programme, a long-term project for women's empowerment,' he added. He also urged participants to treat the workshop as a starting point for personal transformation. 'Use all the knowledge and exposure gained over these two days as a foundation to step out of your comfort zone. Personal growth requires commitment, continuous effort, and courage,' he said. * 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
Daily Express
28-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Both stability and growth apparent under GRS: Duo
Published on: Monday, July 28, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 28, 2025 Text Size: Kadir and TC Goh. Kota Kinabalu: Two prominent business leaders lauded the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-PH government under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor for maintaining political stability and driving inclusive economic development in the State. Chief Executive Officer of Kumpulan BTC Berhad Datuk Abdul Kadir M.E. Sikkandar, said the current administration has created a conducive environment for business growth and investor confidence. He highlighted the government's commitment to transparency, inclusiveness and people-centric development, stating that Sabah today stands on a strong foundation. 'With continued leadership under Hajiji I am confident Sabah will scale even greater heights. 'Political uncertainty continues to challenge other parts of the country, but Sabah has emerged as a model of calm, unity and steady progress,' he said. Abdul Kadir said Kumpulan BTC Berhad, a homegrown company, has grown significantly under the current administration and now employs over 800 Sabahans across various sectors. He attributed the expansion to the state's stable political climate and pro-business policies under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan. 'The SMJ Plan has reenergised key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and renewable energy. 'While also opening up opportunities for local and Bumiputera entrepreneurs to thrive,' he said. Abdul Kadir who is also the Deputy President of the Dewan Usahawan Melayu Sabah observed a renewed sense of optimism among local entrepreneurs, especially younger Sabahans exploring opportunities in business, agriculture and innovation within the State. Meanwhile, prominent businessman Tan Sri TC Goh said the GRS government's economic stewardship has yielded remarkable results. 'The result exceeded expectations and solidifying its position as a capable administrator,' said the Sabah Advisory Council (SEAC) member. 'The Government's success is underscored by a dramatic increase in state revenue: nearly RM7 billion annually for 2022, 2023, and 2024 – a significant leap from RM3.5 billion in 2020,' Goh said. This growth, Goh said, mirrored a robust rise in Sabah's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), climbing from RM83.2 billion in 2023 to RM84.3 billion in 2024, coupled with a substantial increase in state reserves to RM8.6 billion. He said these figures demonstrate a healthy and thriving economy, directly attributable to the GRS government's effective management. 'This economic growth translates into higher income and employment rates, ultimately improving the standard of living for Sabahans…Furthermore, the stability fostered by the GRS government has boosted investor confidence, creating a positive feedback loop for continued economic expansion.' * 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
