Commitment to Youth Development Remains Unwavering: CM

17 August 2025

PUTATAN: The State Government remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the interests and future of Sabah’s youth.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said that for this reason, youth development has been made one of the core pillars under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya development agenda,” he said.

“Young people are not merely beneficiaries , they are agents of change. In a world full of challenges, they must become leaders of community harmony, custodians of cultural heritage, and drivers of technological progress,” he added.

Speaking at the Anak Muda Programme held at Dewan Sri Putatan today, the Chief Minister reiterated that numerous initiatives have been designed with young people in mind.

“We must understand their needs, and we will continue formulating strategies to empower them,” he said.

Between 2021 and 2025, a total of 14 new youth-focused initiatives have been introduced, involving an allocation of RM164.14 million and benefitting over 210,000 students across Sabah.

The Chief Minister highlighted various measures already in place, including youth grants, skills training, and innovation and entrepreneurship programmes, all aimed at equipping Sabah’s youth with the tools and platforms they need to grow and succeed.

“Today’s presentation of the Young People Programme grant, totalling RM300,000, is further proof of our continued commitment to supporting innovative ideas and community-focused projects. I urge recipients to make the most of this grant to run impactful programmes in your respective areas,” he said.

The grant will be distributed to youth-based NGOs in the Tanjung Aru, Petagas, and Tanjung Keramat state constituencies within the Putatan parliamentary constituency.

Hajiji emphasised that Sabah’s development would be incomplete without providing the younger generation with space, opportunities, and strong institutional support to create, innovate, and lead.

He also cautioned young people not to fall prey to slander and misinformation propagated by the opposition on social media platforms.

During the same event, the Chief Minister also witnessed the official handover of the Taman Sempelang, Sembulan Burial Ground gazette by Lands and Survey Department Director Datuk Bernard Liew to the President of MUIS, Datuk Yahya Hussin.

Earlier in the day, Hajiji accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, who is also the Member of Parliament for Putatan, and Petagas Assemblyman Datuk Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari visited the Rumah Mesra SMJ construction site for fire victims at Kampung Petagas.