KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is focused on equipping youths with the right skills to help them find jobs, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

       He said the state government had allocated RM95.89mil in its 2022 budget for various youth development initiatives including skills upgrading, reskilling and upskilling programmes.

       The focus will be on talent matching and producing youths who can be competitive in the job market, he said in a speech delivered virtually at the opening of the Sabah Youth Council’s 24th annual general assembly here on Monday (Dec 27).

       "The government will continue the RM5mil grant to youth associations as start-up funds for implementing these programmes in addition to RM10mil allocated for the Sabah Youth Entrepreneur Jaya Scheme (Syabas) Programme, a new initiative to help youth entrepreneurs revive businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic," he added.

       Hajiji said the state government would also implement the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Youth Fellow Programme and Sabah Youth Leadership Incubator Programme, which will see the involvement of various agencies such as the Youth and Sports Ministry, the SMJ Secretariat, Institut Kerjasama Kerajaan dan Rakyat (Ikrar) and the Sabah Youth Council.

       The Chief Minister said the government will also focus on addressing social problems affecting youths by enhancing its leadership and volunteerism programme, fostering patriotism and encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle.

       Meanwhile, Hajiji hoped the council and its affiliate members would continue to be the voice of the government's policies, agendas and initiatives for the people.

       "As the future generation, the youth development agenda must be implemented based on current needs and future challenges," said Hajiji, who is patron of the council.

       He commended the council for its Youth Kitchen initiative that acted not only as a humanitarian programme to help ease the burden of the vulnerable group but also as a catalyst to steer youths towards volunteerism.

       He urged young people to participate proactively in the development of the country.

       "You are important because you will be our future and you have the power, idealism, enthusiasm and courage to bring change for good," he said.