KOTA KINABALU: Take full advantage of the opportunity to expand knowledge and gain  skills, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor told Sabah recipients of  the PETRONAS Powering Knowledge Education Sponsorship 2024. 

The Chief Minister took time off to meet and greet 12 recipients of the 107 chosen from  Sabah this year, at Menara Kinabalu here today. 

They twelve were Sabah's top Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2023 achievers and among the 600 students chosen nationwide for the scholarship,  

"After listening to your short speeches, I am happy, and I have no doubt that all of you  will have a bright future," he told the students. 

"Do your best, for you are the future of the state who will help drive the nation and state  development," he said. 

Hajiji also commended PETRONAS for its continuous support for youth academic  development and for sponsoring the 107 students from Sabah to further their studies in  various fields. 

"I appreciate PETRONAS' commitment to develop human capital in line with the  aspirations of the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya," he said. 

He said the State Government prioritised human capital development and had allocated  RM470 million for this purpose, which includes scholarships and study loans. 

"But it is not sufficient, and that is why we get Yayasan Sabah to come in, and we also  set up the Sabah Education Fund to help finance the education of our children," he said. 

The Chief Minister said the State Government had also taken the initiative to assist Form  Four and Form Five students by giving each of them a one-off assistance of RM200. 

He said the state government is also providing one-off assistance for those enrolling in  higher learning institutions: RM2,000 for degree courses and RM1,500 for diploma  courses. 

Also present were State Education Department Director Datuk Raisin Saidin; Senior  Vice President of Malaysia Petroleum Management Datuk Ir Bacho Pilong; PETRONAS  Senior General Manager of Global HR Partners Downstream, Luqmahani Mustafa  Kamal; PETRONAS Human Capital Investment General Manager Syed Mohammad  Muhafiz Syed Mohd Bakar; and PETRONAS Sabah and Labuan Regional Office  General Manager Siti Ayu Abdul Wahab. 

Ends