Kuala lumpur: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), through its Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) Skills Institute (IKM), has introduced a new programme, Electrical Specialist Competency (Distribution) 11 kilovolt (kV), to increase the participation of skilled Bumiputera workers in the high-voltage electricity sector in the country.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, MARA Director-General Datuk Zulfikri Osman stated that the initiative aligns with efforts to strengthen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector and ensure that more Bumiputera workers achieve high-competence qualifications recognised by the Energy Commission (ST).
He explained that Bumiputera participation in the sector is currently estimated at around 10 percent, and he is confident that the number can be increased through the programme, thus meeting the high demand in the job market within the related sector.
"The SPU IKM is the first institution to introduce this programme, specifically designed to produce Category BO Machinery Operators, skilled workers qualified in operating 11k high-voltage systems. It is significant because the electricity industry is a strategic and critical sector for national development. The demand for skilled workers in this field is increasing in line with the rapid progress of the industrial, infrastructure, and urban development sectors," he mentioned to reporters at the programme's launch today.
Zulfikri highlighted that the programme offers two flexible study modes: full-time for five months or part-time for ten months. This approach provides opportunities for those who want to devote full-time to their studies and for industry workers who wish to continue training without leaving their jobs.
The first cohort of 40 students will commence their studies this November, serving as pioneers of the programme's success and paving the way for more students to participate in the future. With the certificate, they will be able to pursue higher positions with a good starting salary.
Zulfikri also noted that IKM had received two 33kV main distribution substation lots and seven 11kV electrical substation lots to be used as an industrial-grade practical training platform for the programme, with approval and accreditation granted by ST last July 11.
Regarding future plans, he mentioned that MARA, through IKM SPU, plans to introduce a new Category BO (33kV) Electrical Equipment Maintenance programme, alongside a proposal to develop training facilities for categories B1 and B4 under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).