KOTA KINABALU: Yayasan Sabah Group launched it’s 2023-2025 Raw Material Planting Programme today.

The group through its Pusat Kraftangan Sabah (PKS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB).

The signing ceremony was officiated by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Abidin Madingkir.

Signing on behalf of Yayasan Sabah Group was the Director of Yayasan Sabah cum Executive Chairman of Innoprise Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Dato’ Sri Haji Gulamhaidar @ Yusof bin Khan Bahadar.

It was witnessed by Yayasan Sabah Corporate Secretary, Encik Hanafiah Diman, while MTIB was represented by its Director General, Tuan Haji Kamaruzaman Othman and witnessed by the Director of Wood Industry Skills Development Centre (WISDEC), Cik Farydatul Nazly binti Mohd. Zin.

In his speech, Abidin said the programme organised by PKS under the Sabah Natives Special Programme (PKAN) will ease the demand of native forest as a source for raw materials.

By doing so, it will ensure the long-term viability of raw materials such as bamboo and rattan, which are essential commodities in the handicraft industry.

“The planting programme will be carried out in the Yayasan Sabah Concession Area with the involvement of local communities,” he added.


According to Datuk Abidin, Yayasan Sabah Group has established cooperative relationships with government agencies and institutions of higher education services such as the Sabah Forestry Department, Lands And Surveys Department Sabah, Sabah Agriculture Department and the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Sabah Branch) to provide their expertise and high-value strategic advisory and ensuring the efficacy of the programme.

“MTIB will provide technical consultation on species selection, planting techniques, fertilisation and treatment; conduct studies and research on the material, product, machine and equipment; and issuing Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 2 based on Recognition of Prior Achievement (PPT) to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) participants.

“The abundance of Sabah’s natural resources must be properly utilised sustainably to generate revenue and economic growth for the state in the industrial sector.

“Therefore, the programme is expected to amplify economic growth, expand upstream and downstream sectors and produce significant export materials capable of contributing to our country’s economic well-being,” he concluded.