PLKMI to train youths for sectors workersconstruction sectors

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PRODUCING SKILLED MANPOWER: Abang Abdul Aziz (second right) presenting allowance to a student of Pusat Latihan Kemahiran Modal Insan Simpang Gedong, some 7km from Serian yesterday.

SERIAN: Pusat Latihan Kemahiran Modal Insan (PLKMI) Simpang Gedong near here is poised to train youths as skilled workers for both the oil palm and the construction sectors.

PLKMI director Abang Abdul Aziz Abang Rauf said this is to reduce dependency on foreign workers.

“The vision and mission of setting up this skills centre is to train our youths to be skilled workers for the oil palm and construction sectors. We also hope that our efforts will slowly reduce the state’s dependency on foreign workers.

“After possessing the necessary skills, these youths will also be able to have steady jobs. This way, we can prevent them from getting involved in social ills,” he told The Borneo Post after presenting allowances to the students at the centre, some 7km from here, yesterday.

He added that the setting up of the centre was the brainchild of his father Datuk Abang Rauf Abang Zain, who is also the chairman of PLKMI, to assist the state government in producing skilled workers for mega projects in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

“We hope that by 2030, this centre will be able to play a major role in producing skilled workers in various sectors. This is in line with the aim of our state government to be the highest income economy in the country by then,” stressed Abang Abdul Aziz.

Starting its operation in November last year, he said its first batch of 15 students would graduate soon.

“Upon graduation, they will be well-prepared to work at the supervisory level in both the oil palm plantation as well as in palm oil mills,” he said.

Considering that the plantation sector was currently over-dependent on foreign workers especially from Bangladesh and Indonesia, he said it was high time that local youths be trained to work in the sector where they would eventually take over from the foreigners.

“This centre will be able to supply workers to oil palm plantations in Serian district as well as for SCORE in the near future,” he said with confidence.

For its next January intake, he said the centre had already registered 50 students.

After completing a year of training at the centre, students would be awarded a certificate from the skills training institute of the Ministry of Human Resources, he explained. He also said students at the centre would be eligible for loans from Yayasan Sarawak and Perbandanan Tabung Pembangunan Kemahiran (PTPK).

The centre also provides lodging for its students, he added.

On another matter, Abang Abdul Aziz revealed that a plan was in place to expand the centre in future to enable it to offer diploma and degree courses in technical education to meet the manpower needs in SCORE.

For more information, PLKMI’s manager Dr Safiq Abdullah can be contacted at 016-3242525.