KOTA KINABALU: The signings of two collaborative agreements here today has put on the launching pad towards the realisation of a vision for maritime manpower skills development institution vital to the success in expanding Sabah’s economy.
The BIMP-EAGA Maritime Academy (BEMA) signed two separate collaborative agreements, one with the Kota Kinabalu-based Sealestial Marine Seafarer Training Centre Sdn Bhd (Seamaster), POIC Logistics Sdn Bhd and with China’s Zhejiang Institute of Communications (ZJIC) towards the operationalisation of BEMA, which will be Sabah’s first of its kind.
The agreements were signed online. BEMA was represented by its Chairman Datuk James Ibrahim, SEAMASTER by its Managing Director Capt. Kenneth Khoo and ZJIC by its Director of International Affairs, Yuan Daofu. The Chairman of state-owned POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, witnessed the signing.
Also signed was a Memorandum of Collaboration between BEMA, POIC Logistics, SEAMASTER a state-owned TVET programme provider in Sabah.
The academy, to be sited at the POIC Lahad Datu industrial park, is expected to play pivotal roles in the manpower required for the success in Sabah’s recently unveiled pursuit of its Blue Economy.
SEAMASTER has been producing accredited maritime-related manpower for the last 14 years while ZJIC, based in the Zhejiang Province in Eastern China, was set up in 1958 and is reputed for its outstanding engineering and other courses that are maritime- and logistics-related.
“The Zhejiang Institute of Communications will complement our aim towards broadening BEMA’s teaching resources. We anticipate having their lecturers and technical experts visiting BEMA and BEMA students going to Zhejiang for classes and internship in mutually enriching exchanges.”
BEMA is a product of consultation between the BIMP-EAGA Business Council, POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd and University College Yayasan Sabah since 2022. It was motivated by a desire to plug gaps in maritime manpower to grow the economies of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area, and overcoming a fragmented manpower training situation in the maritime sector that anchors much of EAGA’s and economies and connectivity.
“We are pleased with the collaboration and look forward to progress at our POIC Lahad Datu, which we are building to become the logistics hub of BIMP-EAGA.
“Our role in BEMA is aligned in our role as an industrial promoter for Sabah,” said Yong.
A five-acre site at the POIC Lahad Datu industrial park, which is wholly-owned by the Sabah Government, has been earmarked for a multi-million ringgit integrated, globally accredited maritime skills and knowledge institution pivotal to the success of the state’s Blue Economy.
Blue Economy encompasses maritime activities, ports, shipping, riverine industry, and marine logistics (e.g. oil & gas, marine tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, EEZ development and coastal development).
BEMA is expected to be fully operational by 2030. While producing globally accredited new trainees, its programme of upskilling and re-skilling existing manpower in the various maritime-related sectors is set to enhance the employability of these workers, improve wages, widen their job opportunities and elevate professionalism.
Khoo, a veteran mariner and trainer familiar with the industry in Malaysia and its neighbours, said he hoped to play a role in enhancing the visibility of the maritime sector which is everywhere but unrelatable to many.
“Maritime-related jobs are plenty and wages are comparable to most other sectors. A maritime academy can hopefully draw attention to the many career opportunities that have been overlooked. I believe that when properly organised, the maritime sector will not only ease youth unemployment, but ensure the creation of jobs with good wages and career advancement prospects.”
