Sagah delivering his speech at the Petronas Powering Knowledge Education Sponsorship (PPKES) award presentation ceremony in Kuching on Wednesday. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (Aug 26): The success of Sarawak’s development agenda ultimately depends on the quality of its human capital, particularly the younger generation’s ability to drive innovation and strengthen key industries, said Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
He said young Sarawakians would play an increasingly important role in driving innovation, strengthening industries, leading institutions and finding solutions to future challenges.
“Therefore, investment in education is not merely about supporting individual success, but is a strategic investment in human capital development that will shape Sarawak’s future and ensure lasting prosperity,” he said in his speech at the Petronas Powering Knowledge Education Sponsorship (PPKES) award presentation ceremony here on Wednesday.
As Sarawak works towards becoming a developed, high-income, prosperous and inclusive state by 2030, Sagah said strong and consistent economic growth and rapid technological advancement must be matched by a highly skilled and innovative workforce.
“We need strong, consistent economic growth and rapid technological advancement, but we also need a highly skilled, innovative workforce that is prepared to face any future challenges,” he said.
Sagah said education remained one of the most important instruments for transforming lives, strengthening communities and driving progress of the state and country.
He added that education opened up opportunities, developed talent and enabled individuals to contribute more meaningfully to society.
Against this backdrop, he said initiatives such as the PPKES programme provided qualified Sarawakian students with opportunities to pursue quality education while broadening their knowledge and experience.
“This is an investment towards producing more professionals and future leaders for our state,” he said.
Sagah noted that the sponsorship carried meaning beyond financial assistance, as it also represented recognition of the recipients’ potential and confidence in their ability to make a positive impact in the future.
He urged the recipients to make full use of the opportunities available to acquire knowledge, develop their potential and strengthen their capabilities.
At the same time, he reminded them to build not only intellectual excellence but also strong character, integrity and a firm sense of identity.
Sagah also called on the students to remember their roots and the values instilled in them by their families as they embarked on the next stage of their education.
He said the knowledge, skills and experience they gained should eventually enable them to contribute meaningfully to the development of Sarawak and Malaysia.
Sagah thanked Petronas for its continued commitment to empowering Sarawak’s younger generation through education and for its role as a development partner to the state.
He expressed hope that such initiatives would continue to serve as a catalyst for developing quality human capital for the progress of Sarawak and Malaysia.