Giatmara producing skilled youths

FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: Shafie (centre) cutting a ribbon to mark the opening of Giatmara Stampin at Rock Road Commercial Centre.

KUCHING: Giatmara, through its newly launched centre in Stampin, will continue to assist in increasing the number of skilled and enterprising youths in the state.

It will also focus on youths from rural areas through educational and financial support, said Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal yesterday.

“Giatmara currently produces 35,000 skilled youths from its 231 training centres.

“This is to ensure they have skills and employability but we also train them to be entrepreneurs with the help of Mara (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) and other bodies for loans,” he said at a press conference after launching the centre at Rock Road Commercial Centre.

“We will continue this effort in rural areas, providing support and loans for youth development,” he added.

The minister also said the government would look into adding more Giatmara centres, depending on the government’s budget and demand.

“We need to ensure that there is a sufficient pool of youths at the area so the centre is used to full capacity. Currently we have Giatmara centres in every parliamentary area,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his speech, Shafie urged students to work hard at improving their skills in order to qualify for career opportunities available for a brighter future.

“We want the country not only to succeed in terms of physical and infrastructure development. What we want is for our country to be a holistic country like Japan,” he said.

Shafie explained that Malaysia had always used Japan as an example due to its ability to develop without sacrificing its people’s culture and wellbeing.

He also called for support for Barisan National (BN) in the coming general election to ensure continuous development for the nation.

Assistant Minister in Chief Minister’s Office (Promotion of Technical Education) Datu Len Talif Salleh, Assistant Rural Development Minister Julaihi Narawi, Giatmara chairman Datuk Shahiruddin Moin, Giatmara CEO Meriyam Abd Majid and Giatmara general manager Rakawi Nawi were present during the press conference.

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