Masiung: Tertiary institutions must arm Sabah youths with AI skills

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 7): Institutions of higher learning must adopt new artificial intelligence (AI) innovations to ensure more Sabahan youths master the emerging technology, said Datuk Masiung Banah.

The Kuamut assemblyman said the nation’s ability to address a shortage of more than 10,000 local AI engineers and specialists is concerning.

While some local universities have begun establishing dedicated AI faculties, he said institutions such as Kolej Teknologi Yayasan Sabah (KTYS) could integrate AI across various disciplines in their training curricula.

Masiung said technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions are also well-positioned to introduce AI as a new academic module.

“The talent and innovation among Sabah youths must be highlighted and developed so they can master high-level AI technology to meet the state’s development needs,” he said in a statement.

He stressed trainees should not be focused solely on technical aspects, but must also be shaped with a strong sense of identity, character, and moral values.

“High-level AI expertise must be fully utilised in line with the times, but moral and humanitarian values must not be sidelined in the absence of proper laws,” he emphasised.

He pointed out AI has now exerted a wide-ranging influence globally, in tandem with the industrial revolution affecting governance and national development.

He urged the Ministry of Higher Education to develop AI-based technologies across universities and public institutions of higher learning.

Masiung also called on youths, particularly in Sabah, to venture into the field of AI to help address the shortage of experts and engineers in smart technology.