CM: Yayasan Sabah Vital to the State’s Development

28 August 2025

TAMBUNAN: The Yayasan Sabah Group, with its mandate to ensure that all Sabahans share in the state’s resources, has played a vital role in the development of Sabah since its inception in 1966, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.

“The Yayasan Sabah Group is not merely an organisation; it is a legacy of the struggle founded by the late leader of this state, Tun Datu Haji Mustapha bin Datu Harun, in 1966. 

Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the Yayasan Sabah Group, and this is an extraordinary achievement for an organisation established for the people,” he said at the Yayasan Sabah with the People Roadshow (YBSR 2025) held at Pisompuruan Square here today.

The YBSR 2025 demonstrates the state government’s ongoing commitment to engaging with the people at all levels — from urban centres to the most remote villages — to understand and address their real needs.

Through Yayasan Sabah’s educational assistance programmes, many children from Sabah have broken free from the cycle of poverty and gone on to become professionals and community leaders, he added.

He highlighted that the Yayasan Sabah Group’s educational institutions,  Kolej Teknologi Yayasan Sabah (KTYS) and University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF), have served as primary platforms for nurturing a knowledgeable and highly skilled generation.

The State Government, via the Yayasan Sabah Group, has also introduced the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) to assist students from low-income families, particularly those within the B40 group.

“This initiative has proven that no Sabahan child will be left behind in pursuing higher education opportunities simply because of financial constraints. Since its introduction in 2022, a total of RM17.8 million has been allocated to TPNS, benefiting 10,912 students,” he said.

Hajiji, who is also the Chairman of the Yayasan Sabah Board of Trustees, stated that the Yayasan Sabah Group is recognised as a leader in conservation and environmental sustainability.

As of 2025, 199,146 hectares or 94.5 per cent of the total conservation area of 210,725.6 hectares  have been designated as Class 1 Forest Reserves (Protection).

“Conservation sites such as Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, Imbak Canyon, Taliwas River, and the Silam Coastline, which are renowned globally as scientific references, exemplify the Yayasan Sabah Group’s commitment to preserving Sabah’s natural environment.

“These efforts are not just about protecting nature; they are also about strengthening Sabah’s identity as a state that respects its natural heritage for future generations,” he added.

Hajiji explained that YBSR 2025 is an extension of the ongoing efforts to bring agencies, opportunities, and services directly to the people, ensuring they are not left behind in the mainstream development process.

Later, Hajiji, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Joachim Gunsalam, and Yayasan Sabah Director Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar, presented various forms of assistance, including Yayasan Sabah education sponsorships and TPNS aid  to students and village gazettes.