THE Human Resource Development Department (JPSM) under the Ministry of Resource Development and Information Technology will sponsor 1,000 local youths for various skill training programmes this year.
The skill-based courses include dive master, nature guide, hospitality, beauty, grooming, tailoring, culinary, computer, reflexology, pastry, video shooting and flower arrangement.
In addition, 500 youths, single mothers and disabled people are expected to benefit from short-term courses such as cooking, tailoring, phone repair, handicraft and traditional cake preparation courses.
Deputy Chief Minister cum Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai said this at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday, adding that JPSM would continue to conduct 15 skill training programmes in technical and commerce fields for 314 youths statewide this year at the Commerce and Technical Training Institute (ILTP) in Papar.
He added that a new course, chargement, which started in January this year, is a partnership between JPSM, the Energy Commission and INSTEP Petronas.
“A total of 20 trainees have been accepted for the first session to undergo a three-year training.”
Yee further said that his ministry will organize English courses in Sabah to improve the standard of English among graduates, youths and the rural people.
“My ministry realized the weakness in the usage and command of English among young people, graduates and the rural people.
“Their weakness in English is among the factors of unemployment,” he stressed.
Furthermore, Yee said a study of human resource needs in Sabah for 2011 to 2015 is expected to complete in mid-year, which will be used to draft human resource development in Sabah for the next 15 years.
Speaking on information technology, Yee revealed that his ministry will increase and expand Sabah.Net, a state government-owned digital network, to 380 locations with a minimum speed of one Mbps.
The upgrade, which will link state government offices, including local authorities, is aimed to improve the delivery service of the state government to customers, he said.
“My ministry hopes that with the upgrade of Sabah.Net, it will encourage all state government agencies to innovate and develop online system applications to bring service to customers in a faster, more efficient and quality way.”
Yee further said that his ministry has proposed to build a submarine cable from Sabah under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) to connect the state to the Internet.
“I understand that the federal government has agreed to execute this project as an Entry Point Project (EPP) under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) which is coordinated by the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) in the Prime Minister’s Department.
“I hope this project will be undertaken promptly to upgrade the Internet service, including broadband in Sabah as well as reduce the cost to consumers.”