Sabah, Sarawak to form smart partnership in automotive industry
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will turn to Sarawak for the sake of the state’s automotive industry development in East Malaysia.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the state government did not intend to operate in a silo and would form smart partnership towards a future industrialized Sabah.
“Well, we have got to work together. We can not operate in silo on both states. We are confident we can improve cooperation in the field. We used to work together, Sabah and Sarawak, in the cement industry,” he recalled after the 23rd Sabah Foundation Technical College (KTYS) convocation ceremony at Menara Tun Mustapha here yesterday.
“I am confident in this field (automotive) we can take advantage of it. We would not be able to function separately, but if we work together, there are components that may be possible in Sabah, there is a component that can be done in Sarawak. So this is an effort we need to make together,” added Shafie, who flew to Sarawak yesterday afternoon.
In response to the press, the Chief Minister reiterated that the Sabah government would be establishing technical colleges, which will not only be placed under Yayasan Sabah but also the Education and Innovation Ministry and subject to the state’s financial situation.
Some 460 students received their diplomas in technology management, technological management (accounting), automotive technology, building technology, and Malaysia skills certificate in building builders, motor vehicle technicians and other courses.
“I am confident that these are the courses that we need in our effort to develop Sabah as an industrialized state. We need suitable human capital that are skilled and this effort must be continued and increased under the auspices of the education ministry in Sabah,” said Shafie.
According to KKYS Sdn Bhd Board of Directors chairman Datuk Kamal D E Quadra, there are currently 800 students enrolled, 372 certificate and 427 at the diploma level, in various courses at KTYS.
He added the value of the sponsorship received by KTYS from state and federal agencies in 2017/2018 amounted to RM7.8 million.