By William Isau
SIBU, July 25: The new Pelita Maslaut campus in Miri will reduce dependence on foreign labour and increase the shipping industry’s development rate, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
His text of speech was read by Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin at Pelita Maslaut Sdn Bhd’s 20th-anniversary celebration cum closing of the Marine Apprentice Course 2022 today.
He added that the new campus would also meet the needs and demands of the local shipping and maritime workforce and train locals to contribute to it.
“The academy was also affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In line with this, they had to conduct courses through hybrid mode to allow local seamen to carry out their job,” he said.
The Premier was also pleased that there is a marine training institute specialising in shipping education as it can increase the income of locals who choose to venture into it.
Although there are many academies like this in Malaysia, he was aware that Pelita Maslaut is among the top after Akademi Laut Malaysia (ALAM) in Malacca.
Abang Johari also pointed out that Pelita Maslaut was awarded the best maritime centre in Malaysia in 2016 in conjunction with World Seafarers Day 2017 at KLCC.
“This shows Pelita Maslaut’s success. The Sarawak government is very proud to have carried out its duties in line with the mandate entrusted to it by the Malaysian Ministry of Transport and the Malaysian Marine Department, which is responsible for the affairs of the needs of Malaysian seafarers in providing training that has been outlined by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in Geneva,” he added. — DayakDaily
