Kuala lumpur: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) has signed over 500 memoranda of cooperation with industry players to widen job opportunities for GiatMARA and TVETMARA graduates. Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang announced this initiative, highlighting MARA's ongoing commitment to ensuring the employability of graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under its purview.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the current employability rate of graduates from MARA's TVET institutions stands at 99.2 per cent, as reported by the graduate tracking system under the Ministry of Higher Learning. Rubiah Wang shared these statistics during a question-and-answer session in Dewan Negara, responding to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Seri Mohamad Zaini Salleh about efforts to ensure rural TVET graduates receive employment or entrepreneurship opportunities aligned with local industry needs.
The skills offered at each GiatMARA centre are tailored to meet community needs, local industries, and entrepreneurship potential. As an example, GiatMARA Miri in Sarawak collaborates with Berjaya Dockyard Sdn Bhd in Kuala Baram through a six-month training programme, providing participants with potential employment opportunities. Meanwhile, MARA's partnership with Samsung SDI focuses on the electrical and electronics as well as electric vehicle sectors, offering salaries ranging from RM3,500 to RM6,000 per month.
In Melaka, GiatMARA Jasin works with Apex Global Engineering Sdn Bhd on a special Zero to Hero programme in oil and gas welding, with participants potentially earning between RM3,000 and RM6,000 monthly. Rubiah emphasized that training at GiatMARA and TVETMARA is free, with plans to expand participation opportunities and increase allowances subject to government financial capacity.
Addressing an original question from Senator Datuk Anna Bell @ Suzieana Perian on intensifying TVET outreach in rural and interior areas, Rubiah stated that MARA implements these programmes flexibly, targeting specific communities without geographical constraints. TVETMARA Bintulu, for instance, prioritizes rural and interior youth in Sarawak with courses in scaffolding, pipefitting, and work at height, focusing on the oil and gas industry.