KOTA KINABALU: Kadamaian State Assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick has raised a number of issues, including scholarship appeals, entrepreneurship development, and community forests, at the Sabah state assembly meeting.
He said it was important to pay attention to all these issues for the benefit of Sabah people in general.
“In the additional budget details regarding the sponsorship of talent development, which is related to scholarships and assistance for Sabah students involving RM46 million, I would like to get an explanation from the Ministry of Finance as to what is the solution to the problem for students who have applied for scholarships but their applications have been rejected.
“Most of them are from B40 families who have now registered and are studying in Semester 1 and Semester 3 at higher education institutes.
“Does this additional provision help those who re-apply or appeal for a second or third application, taking into account the excellent results in SPM and pre-university? Because in my area, in Kadamaian and Penampang, many people (students) complained that their applications were rejected,” he said.
He said this when debating the Supplementary Supply Bill 2023 at the state assembly meeting here today.
Ewon also asked if students from Sabah who wish to continue their studies abroad in certain fields recognised by the government can apply for the scholarship.
Regarding the development of entrepreneurship in Sabah, he reiterated his suggestion that a Coordinating Committee for Entrepreneurship Development between the Sabah and Federal Governments be established.
“We know there are so many agencies involved in entrepreneurship. In the records of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development (KUSKOP), there are 66 agencies involved in entrepreneurship development, and under KUSKOP, there are 10 agencies.
“If there is a coordination committee like the one implemented in neighbouring states, it will be easier for the Sabah government to process the way federal agencies provide services and funding as well as the development that is required in accordance with the direction of the state government.
“This is appropriate because entrepreneurship development initiatives should be led by the state government, and the federal government should provide support in terms of funding, training, capacity building, and promotion, including the development of business premises placed under federal government agencies,” he said.
