PUTATAN: In support of the country’s transformation policy, Yayasan Sabah Group (YSG) has adopted three core strategic programmes to help transform the socio-economy of Sabahans.
The first one is the Excellent and Innovative Village (PDCB), which is a continuation of the group’s previous efforts to develop rural communities.
Its director, Tan Sri Datu Khalil Datu Jamalul, said the programme is currently implemented in six villages, namely Kg Sebait Sandakan, Kg Singgoron Baru Ranau, Kg Pandasan Kota Belud, Kg Sinaron Sook, Kg Lormalong Kunak and Kg Lambidan Kuala Penyu.
“PDCB is part of Yayasan Sabah’s commitment to empower the leadership and enhance the capacity of the people in these villages,” he said during the Group’s “Transformation Programmes Roadshow” here yesterday.
Similar programmes to develop the intellect, socio-economy and culture of rural communities implemented by YSG in the South West Coast Zone have benefitted 60,871 villagers.
For its second core programme, Khalil said the group had decided to develop handicraft manufacturing activities as a way of generating substantial and sustainable income for rural communities.
The setting up of Sabah Handicraft Centre recently launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Keningau as part of this programme and effort to develop local handicrafts as an important source of income, would be continued under the Group’s long-term plan.
He noted the centre has started to develop high quality batik featuring local motives design for international market, adding 15,000 local youth had been trained in handicraft industry.
“The third core is the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), a project poised to become an important economic growth engine for the State’s tourism sector.
“The federal government has provided a funding of RM250 million for this purpose while the state government has given us the land for the project,” he said.
The SICC, he said, will better position Sabah as a Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition (MICE) destination, apart from creating 10,000 employment opportunities for the locals.
Khalil also disclosed that the Group was planning to set up Kolej Universiti Yayasan Sabah (KUYS) to complement its existing college.