By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 25: Sarawak is facing an acute shortage of skilled workers, particularly welders, due to the surge in major infrastructure projects across the State, said Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He said the shortage was further compounded by strict immigration rules that have made it difficult for contractors to hire foreign workers, according to a press release from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD).
“I have been told of this problem by contractors. It is also not easy for them to employ foreigners due to strict immigration rules. So I hope i-CATS University College can play a role here to overcome this woe,” Uggah said when receiving a courtesy call from i-CATS University College vice-chancellor and president, Prof Emeritus Datuk Ts Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, at his office today.
Uggah, who also serves as Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, said Sarawak under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is actively implementing numerous large-scale infrastructure projects across the State.
He added that his ministry alone has about RM30 billion worth of such projects in hand.
“Coming our way are two gigantic projects — the new airport for Kuching and a new deep sea port, both at Tanjung Embang. So our Premier has some very big tasks for i-CATS,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Kadim said i-CATS University College is working towards achieving full university status by next year.
“We are working very seriously toward this. i-CATS is a state-owned tertiary institution — owned by Yayasan Sarawak as the major shareholder and the Sarawak Skills Development Centre. We also have a centre to train skilled workers, including welders,” he said.
He added that a 220-acre site in Trombol, about 40 kilometres from the city centre, has been allocated for the university college’s permanent campus.
“We aim to move all technology and science faculties to this new campus, while other faculties will remain at the current Jalan Stampin Timur campus,” he said. — DayakDaily
