Govt to focus on high-value industries to create skilled jobs

 

Malaysia will focus on high-growth, high-value industries to create skilled jobs and raise wages, despite a lower unemployment rate in 2025. - NSTP/NAJMI NOR’AZAM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will focus on high-growth, high-value industries to create skilled jobs and raise wages, despite a lower unemployment rate in 2025.

Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said unemployment fell to 3.0 per cent in 2025 from 3.2 per cent in 2024, while skills-related underemployment stood at 35.6 per cent.

Some Malaysians, including graduates, were working below their qualifications and earning low wages, highlighting a mismatch between skills and jobs, he said in a parliamentary reply.

"The current labour market must be assessed not only based on the unemployment rate but also alongside other indicators, such as the proportion of skilled workers and the skills-related underemployment rate," he said.

Skilled workers accounted for 30.1 per cent of the workforce in 2025.

Under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the government will focus on high growth industries driven by innovation, digitalisation, advanced technology and knowledge-intensive activities to create more skilled jobs with higher wages.

By 2030, skills-related underemployment is targeted to fall to 30 per cent, the median monthly wage to rise to RM3,500 and the proportion of skilled workers to increase to 35 per cent.

The government will also pursue wage increases through the Progressive Wage Policy, the Minimum Wage Order and the living wage initiative.

Cost-of-living measures include RM15 billion in allocations for the Rahmah Cash Contribution and Rahmah Basic Contribution, RM3.1 billion in welfare assistance for target groups, and targeted fuel and utility subsidies.

Other measures include the RM67 million Price Standardisation Programme and the RM600 million Payung Rahmah initiative, implemented through the National Cost of Living Action Council.

Akmal said quota-based fuel subsidies under Budi95 and Budi Diesel would continue at an estimated cost of RM4 billion a month.

He was responding to Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan (PN-Merbok), who asked whether the 3.0 per cent unemployment rate fully reflected labour market conditions if more Malaysians were accepting low-paying jobs or working below their qualifications to cope with rising living costs. - NST

Indian representation in civil service stands at 3.63pct

 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud. - Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR: Indians accounted for 3.63 per cent of the country's 1,302,713 civil servants as of September, according to figures provided in Parliament.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the figures were based on the Human Resources Management Information System and remained subject to updates by the respective agencies.

The data covered permanent, authorised positions and excluded police and military service schemes, he said in a parliamentary written reply to Yeo Bee Yin (PH-Puchong), who sought a detailed breakdown of Indian representation in the civil service.

Of the 47,349 Indian civil servants, 31,628 were in the management and professional group, 15,438 in the support group and 220 in top management. Another 63 had no recorded classification.

The Education Ministry had the largest number of Indian civil servants, at 21,773, followed by the Health Ministry with 14,758 and the Higher Education Ministry with 1,882.

Meanwhile, Public Services Commission figures showed that Indian candidates submitted 194,807 applications to join the civil service between 2021 and 2025.

Of these, 15,875 candidates attended interviews, representing 8.14 per cent of applications, while 5,289 secured appointments, equivalent to 33.32 per cent of those interviewed. - NST

Zahid: MyDigital ID registrations reach 14.2 million

 

A total of 14.2 million Malaysians had registered for MyDigital ID by Oct 7, with 82.75 million login transactions recorded since 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. - NSTP pic

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 14.2 million Malaysians had registered for MyDigital ID by Oct 7, with 82.75 million login transactions recorded since 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

The figure puts the platform closer to its target of 15 million registrations reported in January.

Usage had exceeded 200,000 transactions a day, supported by the expansion of MyDigital ID to more than 200 digital applications and services in the public and private sectors, he said in a parliamentary reply.

Responding to a question by Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) on the platform's security features, Zahid said it used cryptographic mechanisms to protect the confidentiality, integrity and security of users' digital identities.

These included Public Key Infrastructure, which uses cryptography to verify users' identities during transactions and prevent unauthorised access to or modification of data.

He said MyDigital ID also used the SHA-256 hashing algorithm and was designed based on the principle of privacy by design, under which users' confidential data was not stored in plain text but protected through hashing and encryption.

"This algorithm has been certified and listed under the National Trusted Cryptographic Algorithm List Scheme (MySEAL), regulated by the National Cyber Security Agency, National Security Council, Prime Minister's Department, in accordance with the National Cryptography Policy," he said.

The system also uses Multi-Factor Authentication, requiring users to undergo more than one layer of authentication before access is granted.

Zahid said these measures were intended to strengthen digital identity security and reduce the risk of data leaks, fraud, impersonation and identity theft when accessing online services integrated with MyDigital ID.

Mas Ermieyati had asked for the latest nationwide registration figures and details of the cryptographic security measures used to protect personal data against leaks and malicious cyberattacks. - NST

Two Singapore-registered vessels hit in Strait of Hormuz, one sinks

 

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman. REUTERS file pic

SINGAPORE: Two Singapore-registered container vessels were struck by unidentified projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Oct 13 and 14, respectively, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.

One of the vessels, GFS Pride, sank after sustaining damage and catching fire, but all 21 crew members were safely evacuated.

The other vessel, GFS Giselle, sustained hull damage and has since arrived at a safe anchorage under its own propulsion. All 22 crew members were safe, and no injuries were reported.

"No Singaporeans were on board both vessels," MPA said in a statement on Wednesday.

The authority said it was in contact with the vessels' management company and was monitoring the situation closely.

"MPA is deeply concerned about the continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Such attacks are unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law.

"All actions affecting international shipping must fully comply with international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and must not endanger the safety of seafarers and ships at sea," it added. — BERNAMA

Chinese investors eye major aluminium investment in Sarawak, says Zahid

 The deputy prime minister says the proposed investment will expand production to meet demand from the construction, automotive, and other industrial sectors.

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said efforts to attract Chinese investors form part of a broader strategy to channel investments into rural areas, particularly in high-tech manufacturing.

BEIJING:

Chinese investors have expressed interest in financing large-scale aluminium production at the Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu, Sarawak, said deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid said the proposed investment could expand production capacity for aluminium-based products to meet demand from the construction, automotive and other industrial sectors, while opening up access to new global markets.

He said the high-impact investment was discussed during a meeting with Chinese investors and business leaders today, the third day of his working visit to China.

At a press conference after the meeting, Zahid said efforts to attract Chinese investors formed part of a broader strategy to channel investments into rural areas, particularly in high-tech manufacturing.

He said incentives announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim under the 2027 budget, particularly those targeting investments outside designated industrial zones, could also help attract foreign investors.

“During this working visit and series of meetings, numerous areas were identified, with my focus directed towards high-tech manufacturing.

“For instance, there is interest in investing in the Samalaju Industrial Park in Sarawak. They intend to leverage their existing markets while also penetrating new ones, and the investment is expected to be massive,” he said.

The proposed investment remains subject to approval by the Sarawak government and the investment, trade and industry ministry.

Zahid said he would inform the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and the ministry about establishing a one-stop centre to facilitate Chinese investors in realising their investment plans in Malaysia.

“The influx of investment could create job opportunities for young people while facilitating technology transfer and technical skills development through technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions.

“The ‘factory teaching’ approach, which involves learning in a factory environment, could also be adopted to give TVET students practical exposure to high-tech technical fields,” he said. - FMT

Talks on PH candidates for Melaka polls more than 95% complete, says Fahmi

 Pakatan Harapan communications director Fahmi Fadzil says the lineup will be announced on Oct 24.

Fahmi Fadzil said if component parties need to discuss contesting in a particular seat, the final decision will be made by the PH presidential council.

KUALA LUMPUR:

Discussions on the list of Pakatan Harapan candidates for the Melaka state election are more than 95% complete, says PH communications director Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi, who is also the communications minister, said PH has scheduled its candidate announcement for Oct 24, with the venue to be confirmed later.

He said discussions on the candidates list began at the PH component-party level, after which each party contesting a particular seat could hold talks with other parties, if necessary.

“If any party entrusted with contesting a particular seat sees a need to discuss the matter with other parties, it is up to them to do so and, ultimately, the final decision will be made by the PH presidential council,” he said.

Fahmi also said the announcement on the candidates, originally scheduled for Oct 18, had been postponed at the request of the Melaka PH leadership.

He said the change was not due to any permit issues involving local authorities or problems with the event venue.

“The date was rescheduled at the request of several leaders, including our PH colleagues in Melaka.

“So, we rescheduled it, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the PH chairman, is expected to attend (the event) on Oct 24,” he said.

The Election Commission has set Nov 14 as polling day for the Melaka polls. Nominations will be held on Oct 31, and early voting set for Nov 10. - FMT

Spitting cobra found at Tawau Airport office during emergency exercise

 

TAWAU: A spitting cobra sparked a safety alert at Tawau Airport on Wednesday (Oct 14) after it was spotted near the entrance of an office.

The unexpected discovery came as Civil Defence Force personnel were attending to a separate report of a hornet's nest at the airport.

"The incident happened unexpectedly, but our personnel documented the sequence of events," Civil Defence Force Tawau said when contacted.

Earlier, at about 12.30pm, a Civil Defence Force officer and a personnel member were responding to a report of a hornet's nest within the airport grounds.

Accompanied by an airport security officer, they inspected the area to assess the situation and locate the nest.

While returning to the airport's fire station, they were alerted to a snake spotted inside an office.

The Civil Defence Force personnel immediately proceeded to the location and identified the reptile as a small spitting cobra near the office entrance.

Airport staff were advised not to approach or handle the snake directly due to the risk of injury.

They were also reminded to use appropriate equipment and take necessary precautions when removing the reptile.

The snake was subsequently moved by airport personnel to a safer location away from the public.

The incident occurred while Civil Defence Force Tawau was participating in a partial emergency exercise, known as Ex Payau 2026, at the airport. - Star