SERIAN: Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem hopes to make Serian a hub for skills training and the related services.
In an exclusive interview at his office at the Perkeso Serian office building here recently, the six-term Serian MP said several major development components would contribute to creating such a hub.
Components already in place are the local Perkeso office and a National Organisation of Industrial Safety and Health (NIOSH) office.
Another component will be an industrial training centre (ILP), which has been approved by the Federal government.
According to Riot, a piece of land has been acquired for the purpose and the project is now ready for the tender process and will start soonest possible.
Riot’s projection for Serian came in the wake of the recent official opening of the Socso rehabilitation centre in Melaka by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Najib, impressed by what he saw at the rehab centre, went on to give it a new name - Tun Abdul Razak Socso Rehabilitation Centre.
Built at a cost of RM238 million, the centre is touted to be the leading integrated medical and vocational rehabilitation centre in Southeast Asia and the best in the world.
The construction of the centre on a 22.3-hectare site began in October 2014.
It now offers hostel accommodation for Socso contributors undergoing treatment and rehabilitation and can cater for up to 350 patients at any one time.
“Given the great interest shown by Yang Amat Berhormat Prime Minister towards the facility in Melaka, I am confident we will have a scale-down version built to cater for workers in Sabah and Sarawak,” Riot said, adding that as the Serian MP it was only logical that he would want it to be sited in Serian.
“If we can build one half the size of the Melaka facility, we will have turned Serian into a comprehensive skills training hub complete with a treatment and rehabilitation centre for injured employees habouring interest to return to work, “ he added.
Riot also spoke of his continuing effort at looking for ways to upscale skills of workers in the country so that they command competitive wages.
Part of that effort is the numerous overseas working visits he had made and will make.
“Last April for example, while in England, I not only visited one of England’s leading industrial institutes but we also agreed to cooperate in several areas beneficial to our workers and the country as a whole.
“I will be sending my officers to UK to further discuss with them (industrial training and education providers),” Riot added.
