Rural poor being equipped with technical skills — Jerip

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Dr Jerip (seated centre) and to his right Ismundi with participants of the 1Azam Technical Training Programme on fixing High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe at Penview Hotel.

Dr Jerip (seated centre) and to his right Ismundi with participants of the 1Azam Technical Training Programme on fixing High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe at Penview Hotel.

KUCHING: The state government is supportive of agencies that help the rural poor by improving their livelihood through acquired skills.

Assistant Minister of Public Health, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said our rural poor can be equipped with skills that can bring extra income for their families.

“Our chief minister has a vision to develop rural areas but the setback sometimes is that people in rural areas cannot fend for themselves as they lack resource knowledge and skills,” he said.

“This is where 1Azam can contribute by equipping those in rural areas, especially young people, with hands-on skill,” he added.

Jerip said this in his speech before closing the 1Azam Technical Training Programme on fixing High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe at Penview Hotel here yesterday.

The programme from Aug 23 to 29 was for 110 participants from villages in Kuching Division.

He said everybody could learn faster and more confidently together.

Participants from rural areas can put to use their knowledge in mending broken pipes.

“You can help fellow villagers repair broken pipes and water spillage for a small fee,” he said.

Jerip encouraged participants to build on their skills.

“Being able to fix a pipe is good and you can earn money but if you continue to learn you could become a master plumber running your own business.

Jerip said Bumiputeras must learn to be resilient in business like their Chinese brothers and sisters.

Emax Synergy Sdn Bhd business development manager Ismundi Latif said all the participants were registered under eKasih and learned how to fix (HDPE) pipe within six days.

They were exposed to various types of pipes, mechanism and parts and taught simple book keeping.

Ismundi disclosed that that the top 10 participants would be given job placement in a plumbing company for two months with salaries paid by Emax.

1Azam was a programme implemented by the Ministry of Welfare, Women and Family Development to help the rural poor registered with Sistem e-Kasih to earn extra income.

Also present was an officer from the Ministry of Welfare, Women and Family Development, Alice Wong.