Yayasan Sabah diversification fruitful
SANDAKAN: The government through the Yayasan Sabah Group is committed to helping the people in various fields.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman, who is also Chairman of Lembaga Yayasan Sabah, said it included developing the people in education, business, skills, environment and so on.
He said, for example, the Handicraft Center opened in Keningau will provide training to children not only from remote areas but also from across the country.
“This is one of our efforts through the Sabah Foundation to help children and the people of Sabah, to ensure that our country continues to grow and the children also have a high level of education,” he said in his speech at the launch of the Yayasan Sabah Group Roadshow at Libaran here, yesterday.
Musa said through the roadshow, Yayasan Sabah also brought agencies offering open interviews as well as the Sabah International Convention Center Career Briefing session presented by a leading organization in the hospitality industry, Accor Group.
“And, to the children, I advise not to choose a job but work hard to succeed in a career,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yayasan Sabah director Datuk Sapawi Haji Ahmad said the group had diversified its efforts rather than relying on timber resources by venturing into other business fields to bring positive changes and sustainable development for the people and the state.
He said on the advice and encouragement of Tan Sri Musa, the efforts were good as the Yayasan Sabah Group was now stronger with a broader portfolio of business and demonstrated an improved year-on-year performance.
“Last year, 13 subsidiaries and associates delivered RM232.5 million dividend to shareholders, Yayasan Sabah Group through Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd for 2016 and 2017.
“Through the involvement in various sectors and beneficiaries acquired, the foundation group continues to strive to carry out programs to improve the quality of life of Malaysians in the state,” he said.
Sapawi said although actively involved in various sectors, Yayasan Sabah Group is committed to conservation and is one of the leaders in sustainable forest management in the state.
He said that with a forest concession area of over one million hectares, Yayasan Sabah Group had allocated five conservation areas as a legacy for future generations.
“These areas include Maliau Basin, Danum Valley, Imbak Canyon, Taliwas River and the Silam Coast. Through this effort, indirectly, Yayasan Sabah Group contributes to Totally Protected Areas (TPA) in the state,” he said.
Among the activities held at the roadshow include the opendoor interviews of the Labor Department, entrepreneurship exhibition by TERAJU, MARA, AIM, Yayasan Usaha Maju, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. Also held was the Sabah International Convention Center Career Briefing.