BINTULU: Youth in rural areas are urged to seize opportunities to enhance their skills to meet the high demand in the oil and gas sector and other rapidly growing industries in Sarawak.
Jepak Assemblyman, Iskandar Turkee emphasised the importance of this initiative to reduce the reliance on skilled foreign labour.
"The demand for skilled workers is very high, especially in the oil and gas sectors in Bintulu and Miri.
“Upskilling programmes such as PETRONAS’ strategic initiatives are crucial in providing basic technical training for youth and residents near the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP)," he said during the Graduation Ceremony for ‘Program Peningkatan Kemahiran Perancah Tahap 1 2024’ held at MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) Bintulu on Wednesday.
The programme included courses such as Scaffolding Level 1, Mechanical Fitter, Oil and Gas Safety Passport (OGSP), digital marketing, and basic homestay management.
This initiative aims to empower youth and local communities with technical and entrepreneurial knowledge.
Iskandar highlighted that this effort aligns with Sarawak's Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 which focuses on increasing household incomes for the B40 group and improving the socio-economic standards of the people.
PETRONAS collaborated with various institutions, including the MARA Skills Institute (IKM) Bintulu, CENTEXS, and Yayasan Sarawak, to provide training facilities and certifications for participants.
Furthermore, partnerships with oil and gas companies enable qualified participants, such as OGSP cardholders, to secure employment in relevant sectors.
A total of 20 participants successfully completed the training programme yesterday, with 13 previous participants already placed in oil and gas sector jobs.
Iskandar expressed hope that more locals would participate in the oil and gas industry through partnerships between PETRONAS and other agencies, helping generate higher incomes and improving the community’s wellbeing.
Also present were PETRONAS SSGP Head of Sarawak Operation, Hazli Kipli, PETRONAS SSGP Head of OSU, Muhammad Shamad Ahmad, Principal of MRSM Bintulu, Zuraida Zaidi, Director of IKM Bintulu, Mohd Syukri Abdullah, and representative of the Sebauh District Officer, Dennis Gasing Inggu. -UKASnews
