YS will continue to assist people – CM

KUDAT: Yayasan Sabah (YS) will never relent from its original objective to assist the people of Sabah and provide education to their children, assured Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman.

“It is a fact that it was the aspiration of Sabah’s former Chief Minister the late Tun Mustapha Harun when setting up YS previously.

“Thankfully, YS has succeeded in assisting to provide education to our children by sending them to study locally and abroad,” he said adding that many of those who received YS assistance had now become doctors, lawyers and other professionals.

Musa who is also chairman of YS Board of Trustees commended the foundation for the initiative to establish its Yayasan Sabah Group (YSG) Transformation Programme (2013-2023).

He was confident that the people would benefit from the programmes since they were being implemented throughout the State.

Speaking at the launch of the inaugural ‘Yayasan Sabah with the Rakyat’ roadshow here yesterday, Musa said Sandakan initially had been proposed by the organiser for the launching but he declined and instead suggested Kudat in honour of Tun Mustapha, who was a native of the district.

“The proposed launching venue was in Sandakan at first but I said give it to Kudat first. This is in honour of the late Tun Mustapha’s contribution to the development of Sabah,” he said adding that he has a very high regard for Kudat.

Musa also said the BN government had given many developments here and surrounding districts and assured that more would be coming.

And the Chief Minister believed that the people here and surrounding constituencies were wise and matured as all the seats in this northern part of Sabah belonged to the Barisan Nasional (BN).

“I believe Kudat and other parts like Kota Marudu, Banggi, Pitas and Matunggong will continue to be our BN strongholds,” he said adding that the people wanted a government that has a proven track record in administering the State.

“We have to reject the Pakatan Rakyat and its leaders who surface only during the election season,” he added.

According to Musa, he had attended the tabling of the annual report of the Government Transformation Programme and Economic Transformation Programme under the National Transformation Programme by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“The results show that we are on the right platform,” he said.

He said the leader of BN is a very kind-hearted man. We must ensure all our rakyat vote for BN, not only for us but for our future generations,” he said.

Musa also reminded that it was important for people in Sabah to continue enjoying peace, harmony and security.

Meanwhile, YSG director Tan Sri Khalil Jamalul said the roadshow to be conducted in six zones beginning here was to provide opportunities for the leaders to interact with the local community.

At the same time, the programme also aimed at disseminating information on the government’s development plans to the people.

Khalil said it also provided the opportunity for YS to receive feedback from the people on all the social programmes that had been carried out all this while.

“Feedback from the community is vital for us to assess the organisation’s delivery system efficacy in line with the Prime Minister’s aspiration of People First Performance Now,” he said.

Khalil also said during nearly five decades of its formation, the foundation in complementing the State and Federal governments, had actively been carrying out many initiatives to enhance the quality of life for Malaysians in Sabah.

In this respect, about 2,067 secondary school students had benefited from the YS scholarships offered by YS Northern West Coast (YSNWC) zone.

About 1,647 pupils from needy families had received the Special Assistance Scheme since its introduction six years ago, while 648 children benefitted from the pre-school programme initiated by the foundation in the Northern West Coast zone.

Since 2003, the YSNWC zone had implemented 667 social and economic programmes in the rural areas benefitting 41,619 people, said Khalil adding that the YSNWC in its hardcore poor housing programme had built 35 houses, 10 jetties and nine wells since 2006.

And he explained that the introduction of the 10-year YS Transformation Programme was in line with the national transformation policy.

It has three core programmes namely Innovative & Excellent Rural Programme (PDCB) which is a continuity of efforts for centralised development of the rural communities, handicraft programmes mobilised by the Sabah Handicraft Centre with about 15,000 youths already trained in the handicraft industry and finally the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).

According to Khalil, the SICC was expected to be the engine of growth for the State once completed.

Funding of RM250 million was provided by the Federal government while the State government was providing the site for the project – expected to generate about 10,000 jobs.

“It is hope that this YS Halatuju 2013-2023 will be able to continue empowering our rakyat and at the same time create a paradigm shift in the State’s economic development,” he said.