KUALA LUMPUR: Automotive parts manufacturer New Hoong Fatt Holdings Bhd (NFH) has urged the Government to continue enhancing technical and vocational education training (TVET) programs especially for the automotive industry in the 2019 Budget.

“There is an urgent need to educate and encourage the younger generation to pursue technical and vocational skills as a rewarding career path. These skills are highly sought after amongst many manufacturers in Malaysia, including NHF,” said its managing director Chin Jit Sin.

Chin noted that the automotive industry was a key component of the Malaysian economy.

According to the Malaysian Automotive Institute, the industry – which comprises 27 vehicle manufacturers and 641 component manufacturers – had contributed 4.0 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year.

Total export value of automotive components had been trending upwards every year and stood at RM11.6 billion in 2017, Chin said in NFH’s budget wishlist today.

He said one key area was to enhance the TVET programs by ensuring the curriculum matched the relevant market needs of industry players.

This can be done by engaging with industry players to fill the skills gap between new graduates and employers.

“This will also effectively reduce youth unemployment, which stood at a record high of 10.8 per cent in 2017,” he added.

He said Malaysia has the potential of becoming a significant competitive automotive player in Southeast Asia and globally by continuing to focus on upgrading the technical skills and capabilities of the automotive industry’s workforce, along with equipping the workforce with the latest up-to-date technological advancements.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my – 24th Oct 2018