KOTA KINABALU:The Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun has proposed for Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) to set up a branch in Sabah that will be able to speed up the move to create more graduates in the oil and gas (O&G) sector.
Datuk Masidi said this when representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Haji Noor at the launching of the Sabah-PETRONAS Human Capital Development Agenda (HCDA) where Minister said that the State is more than ready to discuss with PETRONAS over the matter.
He also said that he hoped to see Yayasan Sabah take up the task of creating a proposal to be forwarded to the national oil company.
He requested Yayasan Sabah to look into the possibility of using the UCSF campus in Sembulan as a proposed site since facilities may already be available there.
“The proposed setting up of a UTP branch in Sabah is to speed up the move to create more graduates in the oil and gas (O&G) sector here,” he said.
He also requested the COO, ICSB, Douglas Joinol to liaise with the Senior Vice President, Project Delivery and Technology of PETRONAS, Haji Bacho Pilong, who is also the Chairman of UTP, to initiate the process and to start the ball rolling.
Haji Bacho had referred Douglas Joinol, COO of ICSB to the Vice Chancellor of UTP, Professor Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim.
Following this, both parties have agreed to have a ‘kick-off meeting’ to discuss and explore the possibility on how best Yayasan Sabah through UCSF and UTP could collaborate to facilitate UTP’s presence in Sabah.
Arising from the agreement between UTP Vice Chancellor and ICSB’s representative, a ‘kick-off meeting’ has been held at the Senate Room this morning, attended by representatives from UTP, Professor Ts Dr Mohamed Ibrahim bin Abdul Mutralib, UTP Vice Chancellor and Professor Ir Dr Hilmi Muktar, UTP Deputy Vice Chancellor, and representatives from Yayasan Sabah/ICSB, Mr Douglas Joinol, Chief Operating Officer ICSB and Mr Izharuddin; and UCSF comprising Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Hj Johari, UCSF Chairman, Dr Rafiq Idris, UCSF Vice Chancellor, Deans of Faculties and senior officials of UCSF.
During the meeting, all parties affirmed that there is a need for Sabah to create more graduates in the oil and gas sector in Sabah.
The meeting also supported the proposal by Sabah State Government for UTP to have a presence in Sabah, and to collaborate with YS through UCSF to expedite the creation of more graduates who can support the expansion of oil and gas sector in Sabah.
UCSF Chairman, Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Hj Johari disclosed a detail proposal would be prepared by UCSF and Yayasan Sabah for UTP’s deliberation.
This proposal will provide a broad roadmap and options to facilitate UTP’s presence in Sabah. This proposal would then be extended for further discussion between Sabah State Government and Petronas.
Earlier, Yayasan Sabah held a discussion with UTP to explore collaboration relating to the PENJANA Training, STEM and Inclusive Social Innovation. UCSF has also started to discuss on areas for collaboration months ago.
The Vice Chancellor of UCSF expressed that he would work with the Vice Chancellor of UTP to expedite the academic and training collaboration activities to the best interest of Sabah.
