More skilled workers for industrialisation programme — Adenan

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KUCHING: More highly skilled technical workers are needed as a catalyst to move the state to the next level of industrialisation, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

Taib signing the plaque, witnessed by Adenan (second right) and others. — Bernama photo

With Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) regarded as a significant milestone for the development of the state, Adenan said the challenge now was on producing a critical mass of highly skilled technical workforce to man the industries under the massive programme.

“Eventually, after the process of technology transfer … Sarawakians themselves will have to take over from foreign manpower in order for the industrialisation programme to actually benefit us,” he said at the official opening of Centre of Technical Excellence (CTE) by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at Rampangi Santubong, near here, yesterday.

CTE, which was formerly known as Youth Training Development Centre, was established in 1973 by Yayasan Sarawak.

Adenan, who is Yayasan Sarawak chairman, said with the agenda towards becoming a developed nation, industrialisation becomes a pre-requisite, adding that the ‘in thing’ now for the state were trained manpower, added value, industrialisation and export market.

He believes that CTE can play its role effectively to produce the much required workforce to run the industries.

“However, we do not want this effort to be simply the sole effort of the government. We also want the private sector to participate because they are the ones that will benefit in the end with the skilled manpower.”

While thanking industry players such as Petronas, Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and Press Metal for participating in the CTE programmes, Adenan said there must be a joint effort between the public sector and private sector to contribute to the development of technical skilled manpower in the state.

In his speech, Adenan also hoped that the local people, especially those in villages, would take the opportunity provided by the government to be trained with skills.

With CTE currently having 242 students, he said there were still many places for the youths to undergo training at the centre, considering that it can accommodate 500 students at a time.

“There is no need for you to have credit or distinction. As long as you have SPM, you can enrol with CTE. Not only the course and accommodation are provided free but you will be provided with pocket money and you’ll be assured of a job when you have graduated.”

Adenan said he was told that graduates from CTE were in high demand as out of 40 students who had graduated from it, 38 of them were already employed.