TYT tells grads: Prepare to face the real world

Kota Kinabalu: The over 4,000 latest batch of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) graduates have been advised to transform their old "life script" ways to a new one by equipping themselves with the latest skills and knowledge.

Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin said the new 'life script' includes learning to enhance their interpersonal skills, communicating skills and personality in preparing themselves for the real world.

He said it is never too late to learn anything new as there is availability of Information Technology Centres (ICT) where the sources of knowledge are just at their finger tips.

"Consciously, the challenges are for the graduates to discard the feeling of complacency and not being over confident.

"An important aspect that these graduates must pay extra attention is to enhance their soft skills which I believe is among the main issues that must be acquired in any local universities either directly or indirectly," he said, in his keynote address at the 15th UMS Convocation at its Chancellory Hall, Saturday.

He also presented Honorary PhD. (Management) to former and first UMS Board of Directors Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Egoh, awarded Professor Emeritus Award to Vice-Chancellor Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Noh Dalimin in Physics from School of Science and Technology and Professor Dr Sabihah Osman in History from School of Social Sciences.

A total of 4,533 graduates would be receiving their degrees, master degrees and PhD scrolls in a three-day convocation beginning Saturday. Of these, 3,604 were degree holders including those completing their diplomas and the remaining PhD holders in various fields.

Also present were UMS Pro Chancellor Tan Sri Dr. Yeoh Tiong Lay, UMS Board of Director new chairman Tun Zaki Azmi and UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah.

Juhar said the Key Performance Index (KPI) of the 10th Malaysian Plan (10MP) is to produce marketable graduates and human capital that could meet the labour force.

He said they must able to prepare themselves to face competition of getting jobs and market their field of interests as well as soft skills.

He said the employers are not only looking for job seekers who have academic qualifications but also mastering in various skills and good personality such as having communication skills, teamwork spirit, discipline, able to think fast and resolve work problems.

Juhar also advised undergraduates to acquire additional skills in the campus as an additional asset when facing real challenges in seeking jobs.

Meanwhile, UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah said universities do not have magic wands to transform their undergraduates that could meet industrial needs within three years.

"Even Harvard and Oxford University maintain relevant to be top universities in producing quality graduates without being concerned on industries needs for certain manpower.

"The reason is because these two prominent universities have strong belief and faith in education at primary and secondary levels.

Nonetheless, tertiary education level is different from high school education," he said in his speech at the event.

Dr Mohd Harun said learning tertiary education is a platform to build better character and personality of the students to be mature in their thinking, competent in communicating, possess various living skills and sensitive to current issues and information.

 

Daily Express

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Musa Lancar Program Semarak Bersama Esscom

SANDAKAN – Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Musa Aman hari ini melancarkan Program Semarak Bersama ESSCOM dan portal ESSCOM Times yang bertujuan menyemarakkan lagi semangat patriotik dan setia kepada negara.

Beliau berkata pewujudan Kawasan Keselamatan Khas Pantai Timur Sabah (Esscom) dan Zon Selamat Timur Sabah (Esszone) ternyata berjaya mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat terhadap keupayaan kerajaan dalam mempertahankan keselamatan rakyat dan kedaulatan negara.

“Pada awal tahun ini, kita dikejutkan dengan peristiwa berdarah di Lahad Datu dan Semporna yang merupakan satu catatan sejarah hitam di negara ini.

“Tragedi ini memberikan pengajaran berharga tentang betapa pentingnya kesatuan dan patriotisme rakyat untuk mempertahankan kedaulatan negara,” katanya ketika berucap pada majlis itu yang berlangsung di Dewan Masyarakat Sandakan.

Turut hadir Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sabah Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman, Ketua Pengarah Esscom Datuk Mohammad Mentek dan Pesuruhjaya Polis Sabah Datuk Wira Hamza Taib.

Sehubungan itu, Musa berkata rakyat negeri ini amat berterima kasih kepada kerajaan pusat khasnya Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak yang segera mewujudkan Esscom dan Esszone susulan insiden pencerobohan di Tanduo, Lahad Datu.

Katanya kerajaan komited untuk menjayakan pelaksanaan Esscom yang merupakan agensi yang menyelaras pelbagai pasukan keselamatan dan pertahanan dalam menjaga keselamatan di kawasan Esszone.

Musa berkata ini termasuk menyediakan peruntukan kewangan untuk pembangunan infrastruktur dan aset serta sumber manusia dan kemudahan lain yang diperlukan dan dalam Bajet 2014 kerajaan persekutuan memperuntukkan RM75 juta untuk Esscom.

Ini jelas membuktikan kesungguhan kerajaan untuk menjaga kedaulatan dan keselamatan rakyat Sabah selain mengukuhkan operasi Esscom, katanya.

Pada masa yang sama, Ketua Menteri berkata kerajaan juga telah bersetuju untuk membina lima lagi kem batalion pasukan keselamatan yang akan ditempatkan di Esszone seperti yang telah diumumkan sebelum ini oleh Perdana Menteri.

Musa turut mengucapkan tahniah kepada pihak pengurusan Esscom yang berjaya menerbitkan edisi khas Buletin ESSCOM dan mewujudkan Portal berita ESSCOM Times yang memuatkan maklumat sahih dan terkini berkaitan Esscom khususnya soal-soal keselamatan di Esszone.

Beliau berharap penerbitan Buletin ESSCOM dan pewujudan portal berita ESSCOM Times, rakyat akan mendapat maklumat yang sahih dan tepat berhubung keadaan keselamatan di samping berpeluang mengikuti perkembangan terkini Esscom dari semasa ke semasa.

“Di samping itu, portal ini juga akan dapat membantu menangkis serta memberi penjelasan terhadap isu-isu keselamatan yang sering dimanipulasi oleh pihak-pihak tertentu bagi menimbulkan rasa takut dan tidak selesa dalam kalangan rakyat,” katanya.

Portal ESSCOM Times boleh dilayari di www.esscom.gov.my

Bercakap kepada pemberita kemudian, Musa berkata Sabah berada dalam keadaan terkawal dengannya anggota pelbagai agensi yang sentiasa bersedia menjaga dan melindungi keselamatan rakyat. - Bernama

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RM330,000 allocation for Chung Hwa in Tenom

Tenom: Special Duties Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang said the Government has approved a RM330,000 allocation for the Chung Hwa Middle School here.

Of this, RM130,000 is annual funding for the school while the remaining RM200,000 is for its development purposes, he said, adding SRJK (C) Chung Hwa has also been allocated RM130,000 where RM100,000 is annual funding and the balance of RM30,000 is for maintenance purposes.

"Nevertheless, the amount needed for financing the construction of a new four-storey 20-classroom building block for the school, which cost RM3.5 million, is still insufficient and the school's Board of Directors is presently in the process of collecting contributions from generous donors," he said.

He said he was told by the school's Board of Directors Chairman, Kapitan Ng Tet Hau, that the construction can begin soon, once the building plan has been approved by the local authority although the allocation is presently still not enough.

Teo, who is Tanjung Kapor Assemblyman, said this during his visit to the school on Saturday.

Also present were the school Principal, Teh Siew Suan, and members of the school's Board of Directors.

Earlier, Teh said the new building is crucial because the existing school building, which has been in existence since 1950s, is very old and that the number of students studying at the school has greatly increased.

Ng hoped the Government would assist the school by increasing the amount of annual funding to the school.

Daily Express

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Appointment best to carry voice of women: Azizah

Kota Kinabalu: Wanita Umno Vice-Chief Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun regards the appointment of additional supreme council (MT) members as being capable of carrying the voices of women, especially in making decisions related to the group.

Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister, said she was thankful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Umno President, for the appointment.

"I will work hard to ensure my participation in the supreme council will be meaningful not only to women but also to the party," she told a media conference here Saturday.

She said the recognition given by the party President would be used in the best possible manner to represent Wanita in the MT.

On Friday, Najib announced the appointment of four additional Umno MT members, namely, two from the Wanita movement and one each from the Youth and Puteri wings.

Other than Azizah, also appointed were Wanita assistant secretary Datuk Rosni Sohar, Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun and Puteri vice-chief Zahida Zarik Khan.

Meanwhile, Azizah said a portion of the proceeds from the Pasar Ria annual carnival organised by the Perkumpulan Perempuan Sabah (PPS) on Dec 7 would be donated to the community-based rehabilitation centre for the disabled in Beaufort.

She said another portion would be set aside to assist potential women entrepreneurs with the financial capital to start their enterprise, and women entrepreneurs who needed more funds to expand their business.

The carnival would be from 8am until 4pm, at Bangunan Seri PPS, Sembulan, she said.

She said the carnival would feature many activities, including a lucky draw with a grand prize of cruise tickets, worth RM25,000, sponsored by Star Cruise Vice President, Edward Leong.

Azizah, who is also PPS President, said the public could obtain further information from the PPS office by calling 088272091 or 0168240970.

Daily Express

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Sambutan Ambang Merdeka bakal jadi tumpuan warga bandaraya K. Kinabalu

Ribuan warga bandaraya Kota Kinabalu dijangka akan menyaksikan sambutan Ambang Merdeka yang akan diadakan di Dataran Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu pada malam 30 Ogos ini.

Mayor Bandaraya Datuk Abidin Madingkir berkata, pelbagai acara telah disusun untuk memeriahkan lagi sambutan itu, antaranya perarakan tanglung, perarakan kereta berhias dan persembahan artis-artis tempatan.

“Kita berharap warga bandaraya datang beramai-ramai untuk memeriahkan lagi sambutan Ambang Merdeka sekaligus menunjukkan kesetiaan kita kepada negara selain memberi peluang kepada kita untuk menghayati erti kemerdekaan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemui pemberita pada Majlis Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) di Dewan Masyarakat, di sini, kelmarin.

Turut hadir Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Haji Mahiruddin dan isteri Toh Puan Norlidah RM Jasni, Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman, Menteri Pelancongan Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar Datuk Masidi Manjun, Menteri Pembangunan Masyarakat dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna Datuk Jainab Ahmad, Pembantu Menteri di Jabatan Ketua Menteri yang juga bertanggungjawab dalam Hal Ehwal DBKK Datuk Edward Yong dan Setiausaha Kerajaan Persekutuan Datuk Abu Bakar Hassan.

Hadir sama Pesurujaya Polis Sabah Datuk Hamza Taib, Konsul Jeneral Indonesia di Kota Kinabalu Soepeno Sahid dan isteri, isteri Mayor Datin Florence Malangkig, Ketua Pengarah DBKK Datuk Yeo Boon Hai dan isteri Datin Rohayah Pawzy dan pegawai-pegawai kanan serta kakitangan DBKK.

Abidin turut menyeru pemilik bangunan dan para peniaga di sekitar bandaraya supaya mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang dan Bendera Sabah sebagai tanda bersyukur di atas kemakmuran dan keamanan negara khususnya bandaraya Kota Kinabalu.

“Walaupun kita telah mengagih-agihkan bendera Sabah dan Jalur Gemilang namun masih ramai yang tidak mengibarkan bendera di premis masing-masing.

“Oleh itu saya berharap para peniaga dan pemilik bangunan dapat memberikan kerjasama untuk mengibarkan bendera di premis masing-masing,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, bandaraya akan menyaksikan dua acara penting sempena sambutan Hari Kemerdekaan iaitu Perbarisan Hari Kemerdekaan pada 31 Ogos di Kompleks Sukan Likas dan Sambutan Hari Malaysia pada 16 September ini di Taman Prince Philip Tanjung Aru.

Mengenai tahap pembangunan di bandaraya Kota Kinabalu selepas negeri ini mencapai kemerdekaan, Abidin berkata terdapat perbezaan ketara terutamanya dari segi pembangunan.

“Dahulu Kota Kinabalu hanya pekan kecil tetapi kini menjadi sebuah bandaraya yang pesat membangun dan menjadi tumpuan para pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara.

“Kalau kita lihat di sekeliling kita, banyak bangunan kini tersergam indah yang menjadi mercu tanda kejayaan bandaraya ini. Begitu juga dengan aktiviti perniagan yang kini semakin berkembang maju,” katanya.

Berkenaan dengan majlis itu Abidin berkata ia adalah aktiviti tahunan DBKK untuk memberi peluang kepada warga bandaraya dan kakitangan DBKK dari pelbagai bangsa dan agama meraikan sambutan Aidilfitri bersama-sama dengan para pemimpin negeri.

Pada majlis itu Norlidah menyampaikan sumbangan Aidilfitri daripada DBKK kepada 20 kanak-kanak dari Rumah Anak Yatim As-Sakinah Kinarut, Papar.

Sumber: New Sabah Times

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Musa tells newly appointed community development leaders what he expects of them

All community development leaders must be prepared to go the extra mile to ensure that the people’s problems are tackled effectively, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman.

“As community leaders entrusted with the responsibility of serving the people they must reach out to the people to attend to their grievances and provide solutions,” he said in his speech during the swearing-in ceremony of 48 people’s development leaders (PKR) Tuesday at Wisma Innoprise.

Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, State Scretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman, and other cabinet ministers.

“Newly appointed people’s development leaders (PKR) must visit the kampongs regularly to to serve the people better.

“If we do not visit them in the kampongs, we won’t be aware of the problems faced by the local community, and this will erode their trust in the Barisan Nasional (BN) government that made promises during the last general elections,” Musa said.

In his address, Musa said people’s development leaders (PKR) play an essential function as the eyes and ears of the government in their constituencies.“As community leaders you hold great responsibility to ensure that government’s policies, projects and programs are implemented effectively as planned to meet the people’s expectations,” he added.

Musa also advised local leaders to see their appointment as an opportunity to lead by example in fulfilling the people’s mandate by carrying out their duties to the best of their abilities.

He further reminded community leaders to embrace ICT technology which include online media such as facebook and twitter to reach out to an increasingly internet-savvy community.

Source: Insight Sabah

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PUSAT AKAN TERUS BANTU TINGKAT EKONOMI SABAH

Kerajaan Persekutuan sentiasa berusaha membantu mengurangkan kos sara hidup dan meningkatkan pendapatan isi rumah bagi penduduk Sabah, kata Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Dato’ Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah.

Katanya, kerajaan juga sedar akan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh negeri Sabah, terutamanya kos sara hidup yang tinggi, infrastruktur yang tidak menyeluruh, jurang perbezaan taraf hidup yang ketara antara penduduk bandar dan luar bandar serta kekurangan modal insan yang mahir dan berbakat.

“Isu tersebut perlu ditangani dengan sewajarnya untuk memastikan pertumbuhan yang mampan dan menyeluruh di Negeri ini,” kata Ahmad Husni ketika memberi ucapan perasmian Majlis Konsultasi Bajet 2014 Sabah, di sini, kelmarin.

Untuk itu antara program dan inisiatif yang telah dilaksanakan adalah program 1Azam, pemberian Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M), penyeragaman harga, pemberian subsidi pengangkutan serta Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M), katanya.

Di samping itu katanya, program Skim Latihan 1Malaysia serta usaha menaik taraf Institusi Latihan yang telah dilaksana akan turut meningkatkan kemahiran dan pendapatan belia di Sabah.

“Kesemua langkah ini turut menyumbang ke arah pengurangan kadar kemiskinan isi rumah Sabah daripada 19.7 peratus pada tahun 2009 kepada 8.1 peratus pada tahun 2012,” katanya.

Dalam pada itu, secara amnya ekonomi Sabah terutama dalam sektor perkhidmatan dan pembuatan telah menyumbang hampir 6 peratus kepada keseluruhan Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) Negara, katanya.

Juga, pelaksanaan Koridor Pembangunan Sabah (SDC) telah berjaya meyakinkan para pelabur dan masyarakat perniaga terhadap prospek ekonomi Negeri, katanya.

Sementara itu, Kerajaan telah mengumumkan penubuhan Jawatankuasa Polisi Fiskal bagi mengurangkan defisit fiskal Negara, mengukuhkan kedudukan kewangan dan memastikan kemapanan fiskal dalam jangka panjang, katanya.

Katanya, Jawatankuasa ini akan disokong dengan penubuhan sebuah pejabat polisi fiskal di Kementerian Kewangan.

“Ini menunjukkan komitmen Kerajaan bagi meningkatkan pengurusan fiskal Negara dan mencapai sasaran bajet berimbang pada tahun 2020,” katanya.

Justeru katanya, Kerajaan akan meneruskan langkah konsolidasi fiscal dengan sasaran defisit Kerajaan Persekutuan berkurangan daripada 4.5 peratus kepada KDNK pada tahun 2012 kepada empat peratus pada tahun ini dan seterusnya sekitar tiga peratus pada tahun 2015.

Katanya, langkah ini dilaksanakan melalui inisiatif transformasi fiscal tanpa menjejaskan momentum pertumbuhan ekonomi Negara dan kesejahteraan rakyat.

Sementara itu, dalam usaha merealisasikan matlamat Malaysia menjadi sebuah negara maju berpendapatan tinggi menjelang 2020, Kerajaan sentiasa memantau dengan rapi akan perkembangan persekitaran ekonomi global dan kegiatan ekonomi domestik bagi mengatasi halangan dan cabaran yang boleh menjejaskan usaha pembangunan negara.

Katanya, hal ini terbukti dengan prestasi ekonomi Malaysia yang telah mencatatkan momentum pertumbuhan sebanyak 4.2 peratus pada tempoh separuh pertama tahun 2013 walaupun berhadapan dengan persekitaran ekonomi yang tidak menentu dan mencabar.

Pertumbuhan ini disokong oleh permintaan domestik yang kukuh terutamanya oleh pelaburan swasta yang terus cergas, dengan mencatatkan pertumbuhan dua digit iaitu sebanyak 11.9 peratus.

“Di samping itu, keyakinan pelabur semakin meningkat selepas Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13) di mana indeks Bursa Malaysia (FBMKLCI) telah mencatat paras tertinggi sebanyak 1,810 mata pada 24 Julai 2013”.

“Perkembangan yang menggalakkan ini berikutan pengurusan makroekonomi yang pragmatik dan asas ekonomi yang kukuh, persekitaran perniagaan yang kondusif serta aktiviti ekonomi yang pelbagai,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Majlis Konsultasi Bajet 2014 Sabah yang dihadiri lebih 200 wakil dari Jabatan Persekutuan Negeri, Badan Berkanun Persekutuan, Kementerian Kerajaan Negeri, Badan Berkanun Negeri, sektor swasta dan NGO ini merupakan susulan Majlis Konsultasi Bajet 2014 yang telah diadakan di Putrajaya pada 18 Jun lalu.

Katanya, majlis seumpama ini sangat penting sebagai platform untuk Kerajaan khususnya Kementerian Kewangan berinteraksi dengan pelbagai lapisan masyarakat mengenai langkah-langkah yang sesuai untuk diumumkan dalam Bajet 2014.

“Majlis ini akan membuahkan idea baru yang secara langsung merancakkan lagi pertumbuhan ekonomi Sabah dan Malaysia secara amnya,” katanya sambil menyatakan langkah ini selaras dengan usaha transformasi nasional bagi menjamin kemakmuran Negara dan kesejahteraan rakyat secara berterusan.

Dalam pada itu, Ahmad Husni berkata kesempatannya berada di Negeri ini turut diambil untuk melawat lokasi bangunan yang sedang diubah suai menjadi sebuah Pusat Transformasi Bandar (UTC), berdekatan dengan Wisma MUIS, di sini.

Katanya, kewujudan UTC yang terbaru dibina oleh Kementeriannya ini merupakan inisiatif Kerajaan bagi memastikan rakyat dapat berurusan dengan pelbagai agensi Kerajaan Persekutuan, Kerajaan Negeri dan syarikat swasta dengan lebih efisien dalam satu bangunan.

Selain Sabah, Negeri- Negeri yang telah mempunyai UTC sendiri adalah Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Pahang dan Kedah, katanya.

Turut hadir, Menteri Tugas-Tugas Khas, Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Ketua Setiausaha Perbendaharaan Negara, Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri, Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman, dan Setiausaha Persekutuan Sabah, Dato’ Abu Bakar Hassan.

Sumber: New Sabah Times

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State Assembly passes RM1 billion Supplementary Supply Bill

On Monday, the State Legislative Assembly approved the Supplementary Supply Bill (2013) amounting to RM1 billion to meet the government’s various requirements and additional expenditures.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman, who tabled the Bill as the State Minister of Finance said about RN740.2 million was voted merely to balance the State's account as required by accounting regulation.

The remaining RM202.8 million was allocated to meet expenditures already incurred. They include RM38 million to pay the state civil service salaries including bonus for 2012 that was only paid out in January this year;

Another RM26.5 million was voted to pay the water concessionaires and the water Bulk Supply Rate; RM26 million for government official functions, events and celebrations and RM20 million for outsourcing the maintenance and service of water treatment plants.

An additional RM104.8 million was given to six ministries involving 14 allocation votes, he said, adding that the cash would come from the State Consolidated Fund (RM83 million), federal loan (RM20 million) and federal reimbursement allocation (RM2 million).

The extra allocations were needed to complete ongoing projects such as the Privatisation of Sandakan-Tawau Water Supply Scheme, Privatisation of Kota Kinabalu Water Project and Privatisation of Lahad Datu Water Supply totaling RM49.5 million.

"We also require RM20 million for the acquisition of land for KKIP project, SOGIP in Sipitang, Sandakan Education Hub, flood mitigation project in Taman Merpati in Sandakan.

“There is also the need to clear payment amounting to RM426,264, for works at the Sabah Biodiversity Centre that were completed last year but was not paid under 2012 financial year,” he said.

He also said a total of RM2 million was proposed for the upgrading of the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex floodlight and another RM500,000 for the improvement works on the golf course in Kundasang.

Musa also informed the House that some of the larger amounts were dividends that the state government had received from State-owned companies and reinvested in these companies.

"They include state-owned companies such as Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd (RM225 mil), Sabah Economic Development Corporation (RM144.42 mil), Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd (RM74 mil), Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn Bhd (RM57.2 mil) and Warisan Harta Sabah Sdn Bhd (RM41.67 mil)," he said.

He also disclosed that a total of RM184.04 million was needed for adjustment of Advance Accounts involving emergency works to restore damaged infrastructures, utilities, such as pipelines and water treatment plants, irrigation and drainage systems as well as the railways.

Musa expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government for its decision to grant new loans for two projects under KKIP Sdn Bhd, that is, the Automotive and Steel projects and upgrading of electricity supply for which RM20 million had been set aside for the off-site preparatory works in KKIP.

Source: Insight Sabah

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