Malaysia’s Sabah government has partnered with national oil company Petronas to strengthen the Sabah oil and gas workforce through two digital tools. The strategic collaboration introduces online platforms designed to improve employment access, technical training, and work permit processing across the regional energy sector.
Funded by Petronas, the digital tools include Pomigas, officially known as Permohonan Online Pekerjaan dan Latihan Dalam Industri Minyak dan Gas, and the Sabah Work Pass Online System. Both systems are directly managed by the Home Affairs and Research Office under the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department.
Enhancing Industry Training and Workforce Integration
Pomigas functions as a centralized online portal integrated with the Sabah Jobs Portal ecosystem. It matches local talent with active industry vacancies while providing structured training opportunities tailored to energy sector requirements. The platform commenced operational activity in early 2026 to directly connect local jobseekers with market demands.
In tandem, the new work pass system streamlines administrative procedures for employment permits in Sabah. The digital tool allows corporate employers to submit documentation, track application statuses, and facilitate efficient processing with state immigration and labor authorities. This work pass system is scheduled to become fully operational starting 1st September 2026.
Strategic Collaboration for Local Talent Development
The two digital tools were officially launched by Datuk Awang Shahminan Awang Sahari, Secretary of the State, Home Affairs and Research Office in the Chief Minister’s Department, during the Sabah Oil & Gas Industry Talent Alignment Forum (SOGITAF) 2.0. Maria Teo, Senior General Manager of Human Resource for Upstream and Malaysia Petroleum Management at Petronas, was also present at the event, where she presented a certificate of appreciation to Datuk Awang Shahminan.
Datuk Awang Shahminan stated that the dual platforms highlight the joint commitment between the Sabah government and Petronas to upgrade the structural ecosystem supporting the Sabah oil and gas workforce.
Reaffirming the national oil company’s commitment, Datuk Siti Ayu Abdul Wahab, General Manager of the Petronas Sabah and Labuan Regional Office, said, “Petronas remains focused on unlocking the potential of Sabah’s local talent by supporting initiatives that enhance workforce capabilities, improve access to industry opportunities, and contribute towards building a skilled and future-ready oil and gas workforce.”
