KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah state government scholarship awarded during the administration of former Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan played a pivotal role in shaping the educational and professional journey of Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
Mustapha, a Sepanggar member of parliament that in-charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs at the federal level , said he personally appreciated Pairin’s leadership, recalling that he received the Sabah State Government scholarship in 1985—the same year Pairin assumed office as Chief Minister—which enabled him to further his studies in Aberdeen, Scotland.
“Without the opportunity and support provided through the government scholarship at that time, I might not be where I am today,” he said in his Facebook post, reflecting on how the assistance opened doors to higher education abroad and laid the foundation for his later career.
He was speaking after a meeting that lasted more than an hour, during which discussions centred on the implementation and direction of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) claims.
Mustapha also expressed appreciation for the continued support of the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) towards efforts by the MADANI Government to fulfil MA63-related claims, particularly those involving the rights and interests of the people of Sabah.
“At the end of the discussion, I was honoured to receive a memorandum from Tan Sri Huguan Siou, representing KDCA. This memorandum will serve as one of the important inputs in the government’s efforts to address grassroots concerns related to the rights and interests of Sabahans,” he said.
The meeting highlighted not only ongoing discussions on MA63 but also how past investments in education—such as the scholarship awarded during Pairin’s tenure—continue to bear fruit through the contributions of Sabah leaders today.
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