Go into technical fields for better prospects, PM tells youths

 

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says future trends indicate that technology-related fields will become highly sought professions.

KUALA LUMPUR: The younger generation needs to be encouraged to venture into technical fields, especially engineering, which is often associated with the term “dirty, difficult and dangerous” (3D), as these fields have brighter job market potential with higher returns.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said graduates in fields that often raise negative perceptions, whether directly or otherwise, are the ones expected to be much sought after in future job markets.

“Future trends indicate that technology-related fields will become highly sought professions.

“The use of the latest technologies will turn this 3D image into one that is prestigious because the technical profession requires a deep degree of knowledge and expertise,” he said.

The prime minister said this in a special message in conjunction with the National Technical Profession Day (HPTN) 2020, which was broadcast via a video recording through RTM’s Selamat Pagi Malaysia programme today.

HPTN is celebrated on the first Saturday every December as a sign of the country’s highest appreciation and recognition of technical professions.

In view of this, Muhyiddin said the government will strive to strengthen the quality of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) graduates in its efforts to develop the technical profession.

The prime minister said students were encouraged to make technical fields their future career choice, not only to meet the country’s future industrial needs but also to produce viable technical professionals.

Muhyiddin said this was in line with global developments, especially with the IR4.0 technology boom, adding that job opportunities for those in the fields of STEM and TVET were very bright and should not be missed.

He said the government also intends to produce more policymakers and leaders among members of the technical profession so that the country’s direction is in line with current technological developments.

“Besides this, the country’s strategic technology-based agencies and companies need to be helmed by technical professionals. This is in line with the theme of HPTN 2020 — The Future Is Us,” he said.

Muhyiddin said currently, Malaysia has many world-class technology-based companies such as Petronas, UEM Group, Pharmaniaga Berhad, Telekom Malaysia, Celcom and Maxis, in which a majority of their workforce consisted of technical professionals.

To date, Malaysia has a total of 203,966 registered members in various technical skills and professions, clear proof of the critical roles they play in the country’s development, he said.

Muhyiddin said for the public sector, Malaysia is proud to have the Public Works Department (PWD), which has contributed a lot to the development of the country’s infrastructure by implementing more than RM500 billion worth of socio-economic projects since its establishment in 1872.

“Recently, the PWD proved its expertise in helping to build the Low-Risk Covid-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centre at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) in just three days.” - FMT