KOTA KINABALU: Sabah welcomes the move to upskill its state Water department staff in effective water management.
Kolej Teknologi Yayasan Sabah (KTYS) has collaborated with the department in working with Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP).
State Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan said partnering with PBAPP allows Sabah to learn about successful water supply management.
"Penang relies on the Sungai Muda Kedah for raw water supply but still manages water supply in Penang more effectively.
"This is something we need to learn and emulate in Sabah, which has many rivers. It is very appropriate given the state's ongoing water management issues.
"The water management issues in Sabah stem not only from the need for infrastructure development. It is also from improving the efficiency of human resource departments," he said during the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing among the three parties here.
Jeffrey, who is also Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food industry minister, said the training is crucial to improve the quality of human resources in Sabah.
He added that the Sabah Water department will also help this programme by providing existing plants and dams as locations for practical and hands-on training for participants.
"Another interesting aspect of this programme is that retirees or prospective retirees from the department can take part, which will help them generate extra income."
Jeffrey said KTYS will also develop new courses in the petroleum industry especially in the upstream sector to train Sabah's human capital.
"This step is crucial considering Sabah produces approximately 60 per cent of Malaysia's crude oil worth between RM35 and RM40 billion annually.
"The Sabah government and I welcome and will support all efforts to develop Sabah's human capital, especially in strategic industries that can advance Sabah."