Sabah Invests in STEM, Including Engineering

Sabah needs the best skills and leadership in the engineering industry to become an important player in logistics and infrastructure hub for the ASEAN region. Sabah is a significant contributor to Malaysia’s GDP, contributing 5.5 per cent to the GDP in 2023. Therefore, the infrastructure development must proceed at a steady and forward pace. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said that engineering is not merely about building infrastructure but also about building the future.

Hajiji shared his thoughts and visions in a speech delivered on 24 October 2024 at the closing ceremony of the Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (CAFEO 42) at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu. “We continue to expand our infrastructures. Our industries depend heavily on the expertise of engineers to overcome unique challenges, from building more resilient infrastructures to promoting sustainable practices,” Hajiji said.

“The collaborations formed at the CAFEO 42 can help propel Sabah toward becoming a central player in ASEAN’s growth journey.” Sabah’s five-year development plan, the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) beginning 2021 focussed on three main sectors : agriculture, Industry, and Tourism.The push towards development in the three growth sectors include investment in human resources in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and workforce development, Hajiji said. Sabah is focussing on increasing the number of students in STEM-related fields to ensure that the state has a ready and efficient pool of engineers who will carry forward the innovations discussed in CAFEO 42.

Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Minister of Finance, delivered the CM’s speech.