KUCHING: The Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) will provide training opportunities for members of the Malaysian Armed Forces Family Welfare Body (BAKAT), particularly in handicrafts and food product development.
Kamarul Zaman Rasdi, Senior Manager of CENTEXS Commercial Human Resources and Administration Unit, said this initiative will include assistance with product labelling to obtain Halal certification and approval from the Ministry of Health.
“This initiative aims to equip BAKAT members with valuable skills and resources through training at our facilities.
“Coincidentally, during the first visit of JT BAKAT ATM (Jawatankuasa Tentera Badan Kebajikan Keluarga Angkatan Tentera Malaysia) chairwoman Puan Sri Datin Seri Ramlah Dawi, we identified several potential areas for collaboration.
“We aim to collaborate on placing the products made by BAKAT members in CENTEXS outlets for commercialisation, such as Juma’ani Pavilion, Songket and Keringkam Gallery, Heritage Central Gallery, and Sense of Malaysia at Kuching International Airport, which will be the initial focus of our collaboration,” he said.
He said this while officiating at the Strategic Collaboration Ceremony Between CENTEXS Commercial Sarawak and the BAKAT of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), representing CENTEXS Commercial General Manager Mohamad Shahren Mohamad Yusri at Juma’ani Pavilion yesterday (Dec 10).
For the record, he said that after five years of operation, CENTEXS Commercial’s achievements have demonstrated the potential to develop corporate-oriented products or gifts.
“The talents among BAKAT members can contribute to creating products that can be offered as hampers or gifts to agencies such as the Jabatan Wanita Keluarga Sarawak, Yayasan Sarawak, Jabatan Dewan Bandar Raya Kuching, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, and many others,” he said.
He added that through collaboration, these talents can market their products, which can then be promoted and sold to a wider market.
“I would like to emphasise that these entrepreneurs are not competitors to our agencies but are instead facilitated by us to connect their businesses with the community, external agencies, and customers.
“Through this initiative, while we have previously seen the slogan ‘Made in Malaysia’, we are now bringing Sarawak’s products, recognised locally, as ‘Sarawak Made Products’ — a brand to be proud of by 2030.
“I am confident that the diverse handicraft products displayed will significantly contribute to boosting the local economy and expanding internationally,” he concluded.
