Muhyiddin (second left) presents the Prime Minister’s Golden Hand Award to the winner in the student category Muhammad Hafiz Rohani during the presentation ceremony in Putrajaya. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday called for priority in drawing up a plan soon to match the supply and demand of skilled manpower in every sector of the economy.
He said this was important because of the negative impact a mismatch would have on the nation’s productivity and competitiveness.
“The plan must encompass every industrial sector, such as telecommunications; oil and gas; electronics, education, agriculture and infrastructure,” he said at the presentation of the Prime Minister’s Golden Hand Award here.
Muhyiddin said the Economic Planning Unit and the Human Resources Ministry would have to coordinate the effort with the support of the ministries and agencies responsible for the respective sectors.
He also said that the government was committed to producing more highly skilled manpower through the institutions of higher learning and skills training centres. One of the measures implemented was the vocational and technical transformation programme and technical education and vocational training.
“It is important to ensure that those emplaced in every training and skills institute are able to make a difference upon graduation in the job market,” he said.
At the event, Mohd Khairul Azhar Mat Nasir, 30, of the Mara Activity Centre in Kubang Pasu was declared winner of the Prime Minister’s Golden Hand Award.
In the youth category, Muhamad Hafiz Rohani, 20, of the Mara Activity Centre in Tasek Gelugor was declared the winner.
The two winners were each awarded a trophy in the shape of a golden hand and cash of RM10,000. — Bernama