KOTA KINABALU: Initiatives are being taken to ensure there is no shortage of talent in Malaysia’s science, technology and innovation sector, says Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.
The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) assured that the government, through his ministry, would take measures to build the talent pool needed to meet the demand of the technology industries.
He said one such effort was the Kembara Sains Borneo (KSB) programme, which is an initiative under the National Science Week.
He said the program held for the first time in Sabah aimed to bridge the interest gap in science among young people while increasing popularity in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
“To enable our young people to seize economic opportunities in the fields of science, technology and innovation, it starts with the active involvement of our students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects (STEM),” he said.
Kurup was speaking at the opening ceremony of the second round of the KSB 2023 program in Kalabakan district on the east coast of Sabah on Saturday (September 23).
Jobs in science, technology and innovation offer better individual earnings, especially for young people in rural areas, through a wide range of careers.
He said the government had successfully attracted foreign technology giants such as Infineon Technologies AG, Tesla, AWS and many others to invest in Malaysia.
This will indirectly create employment opportunities for the local people, he added.
“To ensure that this can come to fruition, Mosti, through the National Science Center (PSN), has taken proactive steps by organizing KSB Series 2,” he said.
Kalabakan was the second location in Sabah where the program took place, with Kimanis hosting the first visit of KSB Series 2 on September 15.
More than 10,000 people attended the event in Kimanis which took place over three days.
Kalabakan MP Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy appreciated the initiative taken by the government to make the program a success in his constituency.
Andi Muhammad, who is also Deputy Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, said nearly 2,900 students participated in four parallel programs held at SK Kukusan, SK Merotai Besar and SMK Merotai Besaron on September 20 and 21 .
The KSB 2 series will then travel to Pensiangan, where Kurup is the deputy, from September 29 to October 1. Entrance will be free for everyone.
The program is organized by the National Science Centre, an agency under Mosti, with strong support from the Sabah Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sabah Education Department, District Office and other strategic partners.
