Uggah performs a gimmick to mark the launch of Centexs-SMA Safari 2019. He is flanked by Rentap (second right) and Syeed Mohd Hussien.
BETONG: The just-opened Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) here is meant for youths seeking skills-based qualifications that would boost their credentials to compete in today’s job market.
In stating this, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas points this out as one of the areas that the present Sarawak government, under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, is focusing on – specifically boosting the participation of youths in the development of technical and industrial fields.
“Our priority is to be able to produce competitive youths, in parallel with the requirements of industries being developed in Sarawak, as well as the implementation of digital economy as inspired by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“In view of job opportunities in the government sector, they are getting scarce, but in the technical and industrial fields, job prospects continue to grow and these need to be filled,” he said in his opening remarks at the Centexs-SMA Safari 2019 in Dewan Gemilang of Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) here recently.
Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, also said agriculture continued to ‘get the attention’ – thanks to the recently-introduced smart technology slated for the industry.
“With regard to this smart agriculture programme, Centexs could play a much bigger role in the development of the agriculture industry,” he said.
At present, Centexs has a full-fledged campus in Kuching, while those in Lundu, Dalat and Lawas would become operational soon.
Later, Uggah unveiled two vehicles meant for Centexs Betong.
Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap Jabu, Betong Resident Friday Belik, Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) representative Carolineson Nosin Centexs and Centexs chief executive officer Syeed Mohd Hussien Wan Abdul Rahman were also present.