Helping young graduates in the evolving job market

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

OLIVIA MIWIL
KOTA KINABALU
olivia@nst.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: The 1 Malaysia Training Scheme (SL1M) programme was held for the seventh year in Sabah to provide employment opportunities for the youth.

About 50 government-linked agencies and private sectors from here and Peninsular Malaysia set up booths at Universiti Malaysia Sabah over the weekend.

Among them were Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas),UEM Group Bhd, Malayan Banking Bhd and Telekom Malaysia Bhd.

The programme offered 15,000 jobs and training opportunities for youths and unemployed graduates.

Iskandar Regional Development Authority alone offered 10,000 positions in Johor.

Members of the public, especially youths were seen lining up early in the morning on Saturday to be interviewed by potential employers.

School-leaver Evita Patcey Delmundo, 20, from Kudat said she came as early as 7am to look for a service-related job.

The lass, who has mole-like birthmarks all over her body, made headlines recently when she took part in the auditions for Miss Universe Malaysia 2017 here.

“This is a good platform for me to get experience in job interviews and If I am lucky, I might get a job and help my family financially.”

Electrical engineering graduate Mohd Azfar Mohamed said he had travelled eight hours by bus from Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu to attend the programme.

The sixth of nine siblings, Azfar, was not recruited during last year s SL1M.

“This time, I applied with Petronas, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and several companies related to my degree.

“However, I might consider accepting other offers to enrich my working experience,” he said, adding he was currently helping his father with welding work.

UMS vice-chancellor Professor Dr D. Kamarudin D. Mudin , who was present at the launch of the programme, expressed his gratitude to SL1M for choosing the university as the venue.

He said since 2001, the programme had changed the lives of 120,000 graduates nationwide, including 1,407 from Sabah.

“As times change, the government and institutions of higher learning are facing challenges in ensuring that young people are able to meet the requirements of the evolving job market.

“SL1M is a platform for applicants to learn interview skills and the job market.”

Through the one-year programme, successful applicants will learn soft-skills and receive on-the-job training.

SL1M secreteriat head Norashikin Ismail said the government encouraged companies to be a part of the programme as they would be entitled for incentives in terms of double income tax deduction and training costs.

She added that the programme, which was under the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister‘s Department, had recently gained recognition from the United Nations.

“Other countries are looking into implementing similar programmes (in tackling unemployment).

“I believe more companies will come forward to take part in this programme in the future.”

Besides interview sessions, other activities included a resume clinic and career talks.

Successful candidates are given offer letters on the spot.

Norashikin said facilities were provided free of charge to locals to generate income at the bazaar.

Visitors took part in lucky draws and enjoyed entertainment and motivation talks provided by local artistes such as Faizal Tahir, Zero, Firman AF, Jimmy Palikat and Farish Aziz.

A shuttle bus service was provided at Padang Merdeka and the Inanam Bus Terminal to transport people to UMS.

More than 20,000 people attended the event.