TAMBUNAN: The Yayasan Sabah Group, with its mandate to ensure that all Sabahans share the state’s resources, has played a vital role in the state’s development since its inception in 1966, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.
“The Yayasan Sabah Group is not merely an institution. It is a legacy of the struggle founded by the late leader of this state, Tun Datu Haji Mustapha bin Datu Harun, in 1966.
“Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the Yayasan Sabah Group, and this is an extraordinary achievement for an organisation established for the people,” he said at the Yayasan Sabah with the People Roadshow (YBSR 2025) held at the Pisompuruan Square here today.
The YBSR 2025 is evidence that the state government remains committed to reaching out to the people at all levels, from the cities to the most remote villages, to understand and respond to the real needs of the rakyat.
Through Yayasan Sabah’s educational assistance, many children from Sabah have successfully broke free from the poverty cycle, going on to become professionals and leaders, he said.
He said the Yayasan Sabah Group’s educational institutions – Kolej Teknologi Yayasan Sabah (KTYS) and University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF), have been the primary platforms for building a knowledgeable and highly skilled generation.
The State Government, through the Yayasan Sabah Group, has also introduced the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) to assist students from low-income families, particularly those in the B40 group.
“This initiative has proven that no Sabahan child will be left behind in pursuing higher education opportunity simply because of financial constraints.
Since it was introduced in 2022, a total of RM17.8 million has been spent on TPNS, benefiting 10,912 students,” he said.Hajiji, who is also the Chairman of the Yayasan Sabah Board of Trustees, said the Yayasan Sabah Group is also recognised as a leader in conservation and environmental sustainability.
As of 2025, 199,146 hectares or 94.5 per cent of Yayasan Sabah Group’s total conservation area of 210,725.6 hectares have been designated as Class 1 Forest Reserves (Protection).
“Conservation areas such as Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, Imbak Canyon, Taliwas River and Silam Coastline, which are globally recognised scientific references, stand as examples of Yayasan Sabah Group’s commitment to preserving Sabah’s natural environment.
“These conservation efforts are not merely about protecting nature, but also about strengthening Sabah’s identity as a state that respects its natural heritage for future generations,” he said.
Hajiji said that the YSBR 2025 is a continuation of efforts to bring agencies, opportunities, and services directly to the people so that they are not left behind in mainstream development.
Later, Hajiji accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Joachim Gunsalam and Yayasan Sabah Director Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar presented among others, the Yayasan Sabah Education sponsorship and TPNS assistance to students and village gazettes.-pr/BNN
