KUCHING: Sarawak’s technical and vocational graduates are gaining recognition beyond the state, with their skills opening up employment opportunities in international markets, including the United States (US) .
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the achievement of a Sarawak Skills graduate working in the US demonstrated that local talent is equipped with skills sought after by employers worldwide.
“Just now, I saw in the video, one of the graduates working in the United States. This means our workforce is in demand globally. If the United States wants our talent, it shows that Sarawakians can go there and work based on their skills,” he said at the 28th Sarawak Skills Convocation Ceremony here today.
Abang Johari congratulated Sarawak Skills for providing training programmes that produce a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of the global job market.
He said the state government is also expanding access to higher education through its Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), which would ease the financial burden on parents and allow eligible Sarawakian diploma holders to further their studies at universities in the state.
“This is our direction in developing the workforce so that our children can become the people who will drive Sarawak’s economy forward,” he said.
He encouraged graduates to continue advancing their careers, reminding them that their diplomas should serve as a foundation for further professional development.
“The future is yours. We are getting older, and the graduates of today will be the ones to take over.
“You can become corporate managers, corporate engineers and move from being technicians to higher positions,” he said.
Abang Johari expressed hope that the graduates would succeed in their respective fields and contribute towards Sarawak’s ambition of becoming the most developed state in Malaysia.
