MIRI (Sept 8): Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is no longer regarded as a secondary choice but has emerged as a leading pathway that secures the future of Malaysia's younger generation and supports national progress.
In stating this, Miri MP Chiew Choon Man said the government, through the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) currently being formulated, is placing strong emphasis on strengthening TVET as a cornerstone of national development.
He noted that greater focus will be placed on increasing youth participation in TVET, strengthening collaboration with industries, and ensuring training systems remain relevant to rapid technological advancements.
"To this end, the government has rolled out various initiatives under the TVET empowerment agenda through cross-ministry collaboration, involving the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of Higher Education, and multiple TVET agencies in both the public and private sectors," Chiew said.
Speaking at the Youth and Sports Skills Training Institutions (ILKBS) TVET Career Day 2025 Borneo Zone hosted by Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) Miri in collaboration with IKBN Kinarut yesterday, Chiew said the strong government commitment positions Malaysia to expand its TVET agenda onto the international stage.
"This whole-of-government approach will ensure that our youth are equipped with the skills and competitiveness needed to meet the demands of industry and the job market, both today and in the future," he said.
"This will also enable us to produce a highly skilled and competitive workforce, capable of meeting the challenges of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and the digitalisation of the global economy," he said, adding that programmes such as the career day are aligned with the nation's aspiration to achieve high-income status by 2030.
The event also saw close collaboration with the Social Security Organisation (Socso) through its MyFutureJobs initiative, alongside participation from employers across sectors offering opportunities to youth.
Chiew added that industry partnerships not only boost graduates' employability but also ensure training curricula remain relevant to industry needs.
Present were IKBN Miri director Mohamad Mazlan Anis; IKBN Kinarut representative Muhammad Nazri Tumin; and Miri Divisional Youth and Sports Office representative Stephanie Wendy Stamford.