By Mohd Khairy Abdullah
KOTA KINABALU, Dec 31, 2025 — Sabah’s Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (MINDET) will launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI) training programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state in early 2026, as part of a strategic effort to enhance Sabah’s economic readiness in the digital era.
The minister, who is also Deputy Chief Minister III, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said the initiative reflects the state government’s commitment to expanding AI adoption among MSME entrepreneurs, particularly to improve operational efficiency, decision-making quality and business competitiveness in an increasingly data-driven and automated economy.
He said the programme will be implemented through a strategic collaboration between MINDET and Pepper Labs, following his meeting with the company’s delegation led by its Managing Director, Thanaselan Rajendran.
“I appreciate the proposal for a strategic collaboration between Pepper Labs and MINDET Sabah to implement the AI programme for MSME entrepreneurs in Sabah.
“This initiative will be launched early next year to enable our entrepreneurs to cultivate the use of AI in the management, planning and operations of their enterprises,” he said.
Ewon was speaking after receiving a courtesy call from the Pepper Labs delegation at his office at Wisma Kewangan here today.
He also expressed appreciation to Pepper Labs for selecting the Penampang parliamentary constituency as the location for the implementation of a federally funded social enterprise initiative, in line with efforts to strengthen inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems at the grassroots level.
“I will continue to place strong emphasis on the development of MSMEs in Sabah, including social enterprise (SE) entrepreneurs and inclusive business (IB) ventures, as part of the state’s agenda for sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” he said.
