KOTA KINABALU: The local authorities have collected RM294.31 million in quit rent throughout Sabah in the space of two years from 2014, said state Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor.
He said RM144.53 million was collected in 2014 while collection for quit rent last year stood at RM149.78 million.
Hajiji was responding to Dr Roland Chia Ming Shen (PKR-Inanam) on the amount of quit rent and land cesses collected in both years and arrears recorded by local authorities throughout the state.
“The accumulated quit rent arrears stood at RM143.37 million.
“On the land cesses collection, a total of RM3.99 million was collected in 2014 and RM4.43 million was collected in 2015,” he said at the state assembly sitting, here today.
Accumulated land tax arrears were recorded at RM8.92 million for both years.
Meanwhile on the unemployment status in Sabah, State Resources Development and Information Technology assistant minister Datuk Hamisah Samat said 271 youths have managed to secure jobs since last year.
In replying to Datuk Samsudin Yahya (Umno-Sekong) during the question and answer session at the state assembly sitting, Hamisah said they were among 7,728 youth who had registered as job-seekers based on the Sabah Job Portal statistics.
“Job-seekers who are registered with the Sabah Job Centre will apply directly to employers for jobs. However, there are employers who do not inform the Sabah Job Centre when they hire these job-seekers even when they have been told to do so.”
She said the centre has carried out human capital empowerment programmes in several districts namely Papar, Sipitang, Keningau, Kudat, Sandakan, Tawau, and Lahad Datu.
Since last year, she said 3,989 youths have participated in the programmes and 1,399 people were offered jobs.
On the status of Human Resources Development graduates, Hamisah said 62.2 per cent of graduates have secured jobs in the hospitality and plantation sectors, and said some have even owned their own businesses.
She said 11.8 per cent of the graduates have furthered their studies to a higher level.