Sagah: Sarawak addressing skills gap with upskilling, reskilling programmes

KUCHING (Oct 23): The widening skills gap in Sarawak is now being actively addressed by the government with programmes to upskill and reskill employees, said Dato Sri Roland Sagah.

The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said these programmes are being carried out with the support of training institutions, academia, and industries.

“The term skills gap highlights the significant difference between the skills required by employers and the actual skill set of the workforce. As we embrace a Green Economy and Industrial Revolution 4.0, expectations for learning and development have evolved.

“In today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment, continuous learning is imperative for employees to remain competitive,” he said when opening the Industry Continuous Professional Development (iCPD) Kuching today (Oct 23).

On the iCPD programme, Sagah said he hoped it will serve as a catalyst for stronger collaborations between the government, academia, and industry, paving the way for developing future talent in Sarawak.

The iCPD programme is a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD); Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment; Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC); and Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda).

“By cultivating a highly skilled workforce, we can collectively work towards achieving the PCDS 2030 goal, where 30 per cent of our workforce will consist of skilled workers. This will significantly reduce our reliance on foreign labour and strengthen our local industries. Let us transform challenges into opportunities and create a bright, prosperous future for Sarawak,” he said.

He also announced that the iCPD programme, which is held for the first time this year, will be held again next year and called for even more involvement from industries and communities.

“We have had an impressive turnout of over 500 participants in our four iCPD programmes held in Miri, Lawas, Bintulu, and Sibu. This remarkable achievement has exceeded our target of 500 attendees across five locations,” he said.

Sagah also said his ministry is also collaborating with the Association of Professional Technicians and Technologists (APTT) and other agencies to meet the goal of 10,000 professionals registered as technologists or technicians.

“As of September 2024, Sarawak has 7,039 registered professionals (as technologists or technicians),” he added.

MPC deputy director general Dr Mazrina Mohamed Ibramshah said the strategic partnership between MPC and MEITD through the iCPD aims to empower the local workforce with up-to-date skills and knowledge.

She said among iCPD’s main objectives is to ensure that local workforce keeps pace with technological advancements and innovative practices, thereby supporting productivity growth and enhancing competitiveness at both state and national levels.

“The Academy In Industry (ADI) initiative under MPC holds great potential to support key growth sectors such as the digital economy, tourism, and renewable energy, which require technical skills and specialised expertise. With initiatives like this, we can ensure that Sarawak’s workforce remains equipped with new and relevant skills to meet the demands of evolving industries,” she said.

She added a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between MPC and MEITD to symbolise their commitment to strengthen talent development and preparing a future workforce that is competent and competitive.

“The MoU aligns with Sarawak’s vision of achieving 30 per cent skilled workforce or 500,000 highly skilled workers by 2030, which supports the state’s aspiration of becoming a high-income, knowledge-based economy,” she added.

Among those present at the event were Education, Innovation and Talent Development Deputy Ministers Datuk Dr Francis Harden Hollis and Datuk Malcolm Mussen Lamoh.