Hajiji with assistance recipients at the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) Assistance Presentation Ceremony and Launch of the TPNS Smart Application at Menara Kinabalu today.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) has channelled RM40 million in assistance since its launch on June 2, 2022, directly benefiting 27,781 students throughout the State.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said from January to August this year alone, 11,383 people from across Sabah benefited from TPNS assistance amounting to RM15.89 million.
He said the establishment of TPNS, based on the theme ‘Sponsorship Opportunities for All’, had proven to be an important instrument in expanding access to educational assistance for the people.
“This event is important because we are not merely handing out assistance, but opening up space and opportunities for Sabah’s children to continue their education, achieve their aspirations and build their future. This is among the major responsibilities of the State Government in developing Sabah’s human capital,” he said when officiating the TPNS Assistance Presentation Ceremony and Launch of the TPNS Smart Application at Menara Kinabalu here today.
Hajiji said a State could not progress without a strong and quality education system, as development was not merely about building roads, bridges, buildings and infrastructure.
“We must produce a generation that is knowledgeable, skilled, has integrity and is able to compete. This is the most important investment for Sabah’s future,” he said.
He said the State Government’s commitment to education development was also reflected through the Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS), with an allocation of RM155 million this year benefiting thousands of students at various levels, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
He said the allocation had increased more than threefold from RM50 million in 2020, while 14 education-related initiatives were introduced between 2021 and 2025, including the Higher Education Institution Registration Cash Assistance (BUDI), Computer Assistance (BAIK) and flight ticket assistance for Sabah students in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Labuan.
On the assistance presented today, Hajiji said 362 recipients from around the Kota Kinabalu district benefited from assistance totalling RM6.79 million.
“The presentation of educational assistance is clear proof that the Government will never allow any child of Sabah to be left behind in obtaining proper educational opportunities,” he said.
In a related development, Hajiji said the wave of digital transformation in the delivery of the State’s education services began with the launch of the Sabah Education Sponsorship Portal (PTPS) on July 2, 2024.
He said PTPS served as a ‘single window platform’ bringing together five of the State’s main education sponsorship and assistance agencies on an integrated platform.
“Strengthening this momentum of modernisation, today we are taking another step forward with the launch of the TPNS Smart Application,” he said.
He said the mobile application enabled TPNS assistance applications to be made fully online, while applicants could check the status of their applications in real time through a more transparent and user-friendly process.
“With this facility, the application process is expected to become easier, faster and more orderly, particularly for Sabah’s children throughout the State, especially those in rural areas,” he said.
Hajiji also called on more local and international corporations operating and making profits in Sabah to come forward to fulfil their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through contributions to TPNS.
He said cooperation between the State Government, private sector, government-linked companies (GLCs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) could build a stronger education ecosystem for Sabah’s children.
Hajiji also described the 60th anniversary of Yayasan Sabah Group this year as a significant achievement, with the agency playing a role in empowering the people and driving the State’s development through education, human capital development, economic and social development, and environmental conservation.
