KOTA KINABALU: The launch of the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) on Thursday (June 2) will allow more Sabahans to get sponsorship to pursue higher education.

       Yayasan Sabah executive chairman Datuk Seri Gulamhaidar Khan Bahadar said assisting more Sabahans to advance their education would further strengthen the quality of education in the state, which is a critical component of human capital development.

       "As a result, these young people will help invigorate the economic sector as envisaged in the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan," Gulamhaidar said on Wednesday (June 1).

       The special fund will be launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

       Gulamhaidar added that donors to the fund would receive tax relief in accordance with subsection 44(6) of the Income Tax Act.

       He said that Special Tasks Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Arif would chair the funds implementation committee.

       Gulamhaidar said he hoped corporate bodies, government-linked companies, international companies, non-governmental organisations and individuals could contribute to the fund.

       He also said that TPNS was one of the significant initiatives laid out in the Yayasan Sabah Group Strategic Transformation Plan 2015-2023.

       The initiative themed "Sponsorship Opportunities For All" will be the foundation for more Sabahan children to attend higher learning institutions.

       The effort is in line with one of the three main thrusts of the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan in creating human capital development and the people's well-being, he said.

       The establishment of TPNS was approved by the Sabah Legislative Assembly through the Government Trust Fund (Amendment) Enactment 2021, which allocates funds for education in Sabah. The Enactment that came into effect on Jan 1, 2022.