Sabah Tourism Board and My Qaseh empower communities

The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and My Qaseh signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) that empowers rural communities by giving them access to social and economic possibilities, particularly in the tourism and hospitality industry.

The purpose of the MoC is to formalise existing discussions between My Qaseh and STB to facilitate joint efforts to help the unemployed find work through the My Future Jobs programme run by the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO).

The MoC was signed between STB Chief Executive Officer Noredah Othman, My Qaseh Chief Executive Officer Trina Thomas Raj, and Federation of Rural Tourism Association Sabah (FeRTAS) president Walter Kandayon.

The collaboration will see My Qaseh making Kiulu the pilot project and teaming up with FeRTAS to identify unemployed individuals.

In welcoming the partnership efforts, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment cum STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai stated that the project is in line with the state government’s Sabah Maju Jaya agenda and its sustainable development plan.

He added that the state’s development plan focuses on increasing human capital and improving people’s well-being to alleviate poverty.

Joniston spoke during the launching of the Empowering Community-Based Tourism and Rural Tourism Through Human Capital Development project at Kampung Rangalau, on Friday, following the MoC signing.

“Tourism is one of the major contributors to the revenue of rural communities. At Sabah Tourism, we strongly emphasise developing rural people and exposing them to tourism prospects.

“Sabah Tourism is constantly working closely with FeRTAS to discover potential community-based tourism products and aid communities in growing their potential by giving the necessary training and skills.

“I am confident that the creative cooperation between My Qaseh and STB will further uncover the potential of our people in rural areas and lead them in the proper direction in their professional trajectory,” he said.

Joniston, the assemblyman for Kiulu, advised both parties to devise a mechanism to measure the effectiveness of the collaboration and look into the possibilities of expanding to other communities with high poverty rates.

Meanwhile, Trina disclosed that My Qaseh inked a Memorandum of Understanding with PERKESO last April, allowing them to access 400,000 jobs through the organisation’s My Future Jobs platform for the country’s targeted population groups.

“The Sabah Tourism, under Joniston’s able leadership, is a driving force behind this (collaborative partnership) effort, which allows us to collaborate with FeRTAS to run the pilot programme in Kiulu.

“At the outset, the project seeks to encourage 1,000 individuals to register with FeRTAS and participate in this programme to gain job placement prospects.

“The My Future Jobs platform already has over 8,500 job placement opportunities in Sabah, and we are certain that this relationship will assist Sabah communities, particularly in Kiulu, in obtaining the necessary jobs, especially in the tourism and service industry,” she said.

Trina also stated they are discussing with several employer associations how to secure additional access to available jobs in vertical industries, including hospitality and tourism.

“We are confident that this collaboration will provide an additional platform for Sabah communities to explore supplementary economic opportunities that can uplift their current social environment and status,” she said.

Source: www.sabahtourism.com