(From left) Jamil, Lee, Khairy, Nelson and Lokman during the press conference at IKBN Miri yesterday.
MIRI: The Ministry of Youth and Sports will focus on getting youths into skilled industries even though such industries offer jobs that are dangerous, dirty and difficult (3D).
Admitting that most of these industries involve 3D jobs, its minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, said they pay well compared to other sectors.
“These 3D skilled industries are sectors that employ highly skilled manpower and provide high income,” he said in a press conference after launching the IKBN Miri-Oceancare Technical Training Centre here yesterday.
According to him, the government spent a lot to ensure youths acquire the necessary skills required by these high income industries.
“In fact, our ministry has also put aside extra allocation under the 11th Malaysia Plan (RM11) to ensure the success of vocational and technical education,” he disclosed.
He said this when asked about the government’s move to encourage youths to work in the 3D sectors, after the decision to bring in more foreign labour was put on hold.
At the same time, he announced that the Earlier Achievement Accreditation (PPT) programme under the Department of Skills Development would be extended to Miri if there is a need for it here.
“We have been carrying out PPT programmes for industrial workers who do not have any certification, except for job experiences.
“If there is a need for the programme here, it will be extended here,” he said in reply to a request by Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin for such a programme to be carried out for industrial workers who have yet to have any certification.
Lee had requested the government to come up with a certification programme for industrial workers who have served the industry for a long time, but have no skill certification, so that they can be recognised and paid accordingly.
Lee also highlighted the lack of qualified instructors in Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) as most of the instructors were foreigners who would leave as soon as they complete their contract.
“The lack of qualified trainers or instructors will affect the quality of the trainings and we hope such trainers can be obtained from our local industries,” he said, to which Khairy gave a nod.
Also present at the press conference were Oceancare Corporation Sdn Bhd president Datuk Nelson Balang Rining; Ministry of Youth and Sports secretary general Datuk Seri Jamil Salleh and Oceancare Technical Training Centre director Datuk Lokman Hamidi.