KOTA KINABALU: The state will continue efforts to produce more entrepreneurs from Sabah, including from the interior districts.
State Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Yakub Khan said through Sabah Talent Entrepreneurship (STEP), the programme aimed to create entrepreneurs who could help others with job opportunities.
"The Sabah Human Resources Development Department (JPSM) implemented three programmes last year, involving 60 participants from Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu.
"For 2022, the programme will be continued and engage youth from Kota Marudu, Keningau, Beaufort and Sipitang.
"It is hoped that the trainees will become successful and competitive entrepreneurs, as well as create jobs for others," he said during the question-and-answer session at the state assembly today.
Yakub was replying to Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak (Umno-Usukan) on the government's efforts to provide for those who became unemployed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He added that through a collaboration between JPSM and the Social Security Organisation (Socso), both had held two series of career carnivals last year which saw job placement for 6,977 people as of Dec 31, 2021.
This year, JPSM and Socso are planning to implement 20 carnivals throughout Sabah to give equal opportunities for all to seeking jobs.
Yakub said that JPSM has also set up a "Sabah Jobs" portal to match jobs between employers and job seekers.
"As of March 10, 2022, there are 111 employers who have registered and offered 119 job vacancies.
"There are 383 youths who have applied for jobs through the portal," he added.