By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Nov 3: Serian MP Dato Sri Richard Riot Jaem hopes the proposed Serian Industrial Training Institute (ILP) initiative will proceed as planned as it is meant to develop human capital in the country, especially in Sarawak.
“I am glad to hear that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced in Bintulu recently that federal-funded projects in Sarawak will proceed.
“So, as Serian MP, I hope the federal government will proceed with the construction of Serian ILP, which has been approved by the previous administration,” Riot told DayakDaily today.
According to Riot, who was the former Minister of Human Resources, the RM260 million ILP could produce up to 1,400 skilled workers annually, with intakes in January and July.
“I have also highlighted the issue in Parliament recently. So, we hope it could proceed to meet the demand of the nation’s target of having 35 per cent skilled workers by 2020,” he said, adding that at the moment, the country’s skilled workers made up about 25 per cent.
Riot said to be a developed country, Malaysia must strive to train its workers in all sectors, especially in oil and gas.
“As oil and gas is going to be a major industry in Sarawak, one of the courses offered at Serian ILP will focus on this subject,” he said.
He said during his stint as Minister of Human Resources, he had led many missions to developed countries, notably Germany, where the so-called ‘blue collar’ jobs gain more respect and are better paid compared to ‘white collar’ ones.
“We have to look at skilled training seriously in order to further advance our state’s objective to become a developed state by 2030,” he added.
There are currently 32 ILPs in the country, including one each in Samarahan, Miri, and Bintulu.
Riot stressed that the setting up of an ILP in Serian was also in line with the government’s aim to produce more Malaysians with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) qualifications.
TVET includes formal, non-formal and informal learning that prepares young people with knowledge and skills required in the market.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) definition, TVET is the study of technologies and related sciences as well as the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding, and knowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of the economy and social life.
Within TVET, young people have the opportunity to learn from basic to advanced levels across a wide range of institutional and work settings. — DayakDaily
