SANDAKAN: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman said more higher learning institutions would set up their branches at the Sandakan Education Hub in Sungai Batang Road, Mile 12.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sandakan Polytechnic and Maktab Rendah Sains Mara are already sited in the education hub, he said.
“Several government agencies and established institutions of higher learning have requested to open their branches in the education hub here.
“The State Government welcomes the initiative taken by these parties as it will benefit the youth in and around this district,” he said.
Musa also welcomed private agencies to establish research and development centre at the education hub, which is now equipped with facilities such as road, water and electricity.
“I believe with the opening of more educational centres, the youth have vast learning opportunity,” he told reporters after attending a briefing and meeting by the Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) yesterday.
The briefing was also attended by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Zakaria Edris, who is the Gum-Gum State assemblyman, Libaran MP Datuk Juslie Ajirol, State assemblyman for Sekong Datuk Samsudin Yahya, State assemblyman for Karamunting Charles O’ Pang and State assemblyman for Elupora Datuk Au Kam Wah as well as several head of departments.
Later, Musa who is also the Libaran Umno chief, chaired the division Umno meeting at Sri Libaran.
Musa who is the Sungai Sibuga State assemblyman, earlier visited the family of the late Datuk Haji Basra Haji Abdul Rahman, the former Libaran Umno secretary, at the family’s residence at Mile 12, Rancangan Sungai Manila.
The wife of the Chief Minister, Datin Seri Hajah Faridah Haji Tussin, MP for Libaran, Datuk Juslie Ajirol and several State assemblymen as well as Libaran Umno leaders were also present.
Musa said RM25 million would be allocated to address flood issues in the district.
“I have been briefed by Department of Irrigation and Drainage relating to problems caused by flash floods. We had applied for allocation from the federal government and it was approved by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak,” he said.
Meanwhile, Musa also said the Bokara-Batu Sapi bypass project was progressing smoothly and was expected to be completed by April 2015.
However, he said the road construction had caused dust, thus, created an unhealthy environment to nearby residential houses.
Musa advised the constractor to control the dust.
Also present at the briefing session were Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Zakaria Haji Mohd Edris, SMC president Datuk James Wong and his deputy Haji Mohd Hamsan Haji Awang Supain.