KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah assembly today passed a motion to amend the Government Trust Funds Enactment 1964 to establish the Sabah State Trust Fund.
Tabled by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and supported by Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak (Usukan-BN), the motion was aimed at funding the education of the Sabah people.
Hajiji said the fund will act as a sponsoring body, especially for Sabah students to further their studies in higher learning institutes.
Those born in Sabah are eligible to receive assistance from the fund, regardless of ethnicity, race and religion, said the state finance minister.
The state trust fund will be chaired by the permanent secretary of Sabah’s Finance Ministry.
“I give my assurance that the fund will be managed in compliance with financial regulations, that this fund will help students to pay for their study expenses from certificate to degree, student’s activities management fee and any expenses approved by the implementing committee.”
Organisations and individuals who contribute to the trust fund will be eligible for tax exemptions, Hajiji added.
Meanwhile, when debating the motion, opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Senallang-Warisan) said efforts to provide education to Sabahans should not heavily depend on government allocations alone.
He said oil companies conducting petroleum exploration activities in Sabah such as Petronas and Shell should channel assistance into the trust fund to benefit more Sabahans.
In addition, he said students who qualify for assistance under the initiative should also undertake courses that match the needs and requirements of the current job market. – Bernama, December 9, 2021
