RM1.7b spending to boost skilled manpower

PUTRAJAYA: The government spends about RM1.7 billion annually towards the effort to produce highly skilled manpower, said Human
Resources Minister, Datuk Dr S Subramaniam here today.

"If we collate the allocation to a number of government agencies, government institutions and special programmes, we would have spent this sum annually in the area of skills," he told the media after officiating the Prime Minister's Golden Hands Award ceremony here.

He hoped that the efforts of all the agencies and departments concerned will ensure that the big investment produces real results as anticipated.

Earlier, in his speech, Dr Subramaniam said a workforce of 3.3 million is needed in 2020 with 50 per cent being highly skilled workers.


"The composition of these highly skilled workers is at present at 28 per cent and is projected to rise to 33 per cent in 2015," he added.

He said this is in line with the government's objective to bring skills training into the mainstream as part of the National Key Results Area.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Golden Hands Award this time was won by Muhammad Hazik Zulkarnain Md Lukman and Giam Kee Chun. Both are from the Kuala Langat Industrial Training Institute.

Both had the highest marks among 183 participants competing in 26 skills areas in the 20th Malaysia Skills Competition.

Muhammad Hazik Zulkarnain and Giam will now represent Malaysia in the ASEAN Skills Competition 2012 in Jakarta, Indonesia and if successful, go on to represent the country at the World Skills Competition 2013 in Leipzig, Germany.

On the same note, Dr Subramaniam announced that Proton Holdings had agreed to award a Proton Saga if the Malaysian contestants emerge champions in either of the two overseas competitions. - Bernama