KOTA KINABALU:The signing of two collaborative agreements today has laid the groundwork for the establishment of a vital maritime manpower skills development institution, a significant step toward expanding Sabah’s economy.
The BIMP-EAGA Maritime Academy (BEMA) signed the agreements with two key partners: Sealestial Marine Seafarer Training Centre Sdn Bhd (Seamaster) and POIC Logistics Sdn Bhd, as well as with China’s Zhejiang Institute of Communications (ZJIC). This initiative marks the creation of Sabah’s first institution dedicated to maritime skills and training.
The agreements were signed virtually, with BEMA represented by its Chairman, Datuk James Ibrahim; Seamaster by its Managing Director, Captain Kenneth Khoo; and ZJIC by its Director of International Affairs, Yuan Daofu. The signing was witnessed by Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee, the chairman of state-owned POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd.
In addition to these agreements, a Memorandum of Collaboration was signed between BEMA, POIC Logistics, and Seamaster, a state-owned Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) provider in Sabah.
The academy, set to be located at the POIC Lahad Datu Industrial Park, is expected to play a pivotal role in fulfilling the manpower needs associated with Sabah’s ambitious “Blue Economy” initiative. Seamaster has a successful track record of producing accredited maritime-related personnel for the past 14 years, while ZJIC, established in 1958 in Eastern China’s Zhejiang Province, is renowned for its superior engineering and logistics programs.
“The Zhejiang Institute of Communications will enhance BEMA’s teaching resources, allowing for a mutually enriching exchange where their lecturers and technical experts can visit BEMA, while our students will have opportunities for classes and internships in Zhejiang,” said Datuk Ibrahim.
The creation of BEMA is the result of consultations among the BIMP-EAGA Business Council, POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd, and University College Yayasan Sabah, initiated in 2022. The initiative was driven by a desire to address gaps in maritime manpower within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), thereby enhancing economic connectivity.
YB Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee, chairman of POIC Sabah, expressed confidence in the collaboration, stating, “We are excited about this partnership and anticipate significant progress at our POIC Lahad Datu, which aims to be the logistics hub for BIMP-EAGA. Our role in BEMA aligns with our mission as an industrial promoter for Sabah.”
A designated five-acre site at the POIC Lahad Datu Industrial Park, wholly owned by the Sabah government, has been earmarked for a multi-million ringgit globally accredited maritime skills institution, essential for the success of the state’s Blue Economy.
The “Blue Economy” encompasses a wide range of maritime activities, including ports, shipping, riverine industries, and marine logistics, such as oil and gas, marine tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) development, and coastal development.
BEMA is expected to be fully operational by 2030, focusing on producing globally accredited trainees and offering upskilling and re-skilling programs for existing maritime personnel. This initiative aims to enhance employability, improve wages, expand job opportunities, and elevate professionalism within the sector.
Captain Khoo of Seamaster, a veteran mariner and trainer with extensive experience in the industry, highlighted the importance of increasing visibility within the maritime sector. “Maritime-related jobs are abundant, and their wages are competitive with many other industries. A maritime academy can shine a light on these opportunities that often go unnoticed. Properly organized, the maritime sector can combat youth unemployment and create well-paying jobs with career advancement potential,” he stated.-pr/BNN
