KUALA LUMPUR: Developers, main contractors, and housing subcontractors are urged to give priority to graduates from technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes in the construction sector.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it was time for Malaysia to transition from relying on foreign workers to employing skilled local talent.
He said the government would support the recruitment of TVET graduates, especially those from the Malaysian Construction Academy (ABM).
"We aim for the construction sector to be fully powered by local talent," he said at the launch of the CIDB TVET Construction Leader Slogan during the ABM & CIDB Technologies Graduation Ceremony for the Central Region today.
Also present was Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
Zahid also advised main contractors and subcontractors to avoid being selective in their hiring practices.
"While hiring foreign workers may be cost-effective in the short term, the long-term impact on the nation and its GDP outweighs the benefits," he said.
He said that TVET education now offered a high employability rate, with nearly 95 out of every 100 TVET students securing jobs or job offers before completing their courses.
Meanwhile, Nanta said that the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) had identified the need for facilities and infrastructure at training centres, taking into account the projected skilled trainees in line with the National TVET Policy 2030.
He added that additional funding was required to upgrade the infrastructure and facilities at existing training centres to ensure that the amenities provided meet educational needs and international standards.
"The Ministry hopes the government will consider allocating more funds to build new ABM centres in Sabah and Selangor, as well as upgrade current training facilities," he said.