JOHOR BAHRU: The establishment of the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC), launched today, makes Johor the first state in the country to have one, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), emphasized that the Johor State Government’s initiative to establish JTDC was a strategic step in developing a skilled workforce ecosystem in the state.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid stated that JTDC would continue to strengthen the ecosystem for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and provide opportunities for high-skilled careers, thereby implementing premium wages in the state, particularly in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). He noted the competitive job market between Johor and Singapore, highlighting the disparity in minimum wages, with Malaysia’s being RM1,700 compared to Singapore’s 1,500 Singapore dollars, equivalent to RM5,290.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zah
id praised Johor’s initiative to ensure premium wages of RM4,000 for diploma holders and RM5,000 for those with the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) equivalent to a degree, stating, “I must acknowledge that no other state has done this so far, only Johor.” These remarks were made during the official launching of JTDC and the Career Carnival at a local convention centre.
Joining the launch were notable figures such as Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, and Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad. Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the National TVET Committee, revealed that while there are currently 100,000 job opportunities in Johor, 74,000 are high-skilled positions in JS-SEZ, with only 52,000 of these vacancies filled.
Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz highlighted JTDC’s role in realigning educational and training courses to meet industry demands, expanding partnerships with industries and higher education institutions (IPTs) for res
earch, equipment provision, and expertise sharing. JTDC also aims to enhance direct career placement schemes and industrial training (place and train), encouraging IPTs to offer demand-driven courses.
The three-day career carnival, running from Friday to today, organized by the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) through the Social Security Organisation (Socso) in collaboration with the Johor State Government, is offering 15,000 job opportunities.
