BINTULU: The expansion of Bintulu’s industrial sector is driving greater demand for technically skilled workers as industries adopt new technologies and face increasingly stringent safety and international standards.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn noted that Bintulu is one of Sarawak’s major industrial hubs, hosting various activities including the oil and gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), petrochemical, manufacturing and energy-related sectors.
He said industrial progress depended not only on infrastructure, investment and technology but also on a competent workforce that was prepared and able to adapt to increasingly complex technical requirements.
“Modern industrial economies require a workforce that is able to work safely, understand international standards and respond confidently to increasingly complex technical requirements.
“Technical competency needed to be given serious attention as it is closely linked to operational productivity, industrial safety, asset reliability and structural integrity, while also supporting sustainable industrial growth,” he said when officiating the API 510 & API 570 Technical Awareness Symposium (Sarawak Edition) and the opening of the new IDC Training House branch here on Monday.
He said the symposium provided a platform for participants to enhance their technical understanding while opening pathways to professional training, certification preparation and competency development that met international standards.
He added that the opening of the IDC Training House branch in Bintulu had the potential to expand access to specialised technical training, while making it easier for Sarawak-based professionals and industry players to obtain training without having to travel to Peninsular Malaysia or overseas.
“It also contributes to a broader ecosystem where knowledge can be learned, applied and retained closer to the industries that require it,” he said.
He also said closer cooperation between the government, TVET institutions, employers and technical experts needed to be strengthened to ensure training programmes offered truly meet the actual needs of the industry.
Industry players should also play an active role by sharing competency requirements, providing industry exposure and supporting continuous upskilling to create clearer career pathways for local talent.
“Technical training should not merely be viewed as an operational cost but as a long-term investment in safety, reliability, productivity and business resilience,” he said. He said efforts to strengthen technical competency were in line with Sarawak’s aspiration to develop a skilled, competitive workforce that was ready to meet the needs of future industries while supporting the State’s economic transformation
