By Tan Mei Kuan
Running for the 51st year, the annual dinner of Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Perak branch was held recently at Casuarina @ Meru Hotel.
Present were Asmuni Awi, Executive Councillor for Islamic Affairs, Islamic Education, Rural and Entrepreneur Development as guest of honour, Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai, President of FMM and Dato’ Gan Tack Kong, Chairman of FMM Perak branch.
“The manufacturing sector is a key driver of economic growth and international trade at national as well as state level. Based on the latest statistics released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia on July 24, 2019, Perak is among the six states which had grown at a faster rate than the national growth rate of 4.7 per cent,” said Soh.
According to him, Perak’s digital aspirations would certainly receive a great boost and jump-start since the state has been chosen to be the first in the country to introduce the National Fiberization and Connectivity Plan to enhance its high-speed broadband access at affordable prices.
“While the target community under the Plan is the rural areas, I’d strongly urge the state government to negotiate with the Federal Government and Tenaga Nasional Berhad to expand connectivity to industrial estates in line with the National Plan to support the development of the digital economy and Industrial Revolution 4.0,” Soh highlighted.
FMM also requested the state government to share with investors the various proposed development plans, especially those which would provide opportunities for the manufacturing sector to supply goods and services, in line with the national agenda to buy Made-in-Malaysia in government projects and state procurement.
FMM is at the helm of efforts to strengthen the national TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) system, working with government ministries, departments and agencies. The key outcomes are a national TVET Blueprint by mid-2020 that is truly industry-driven, professional TVET practitioners having the right employable skills and to increase the country’s skilled workforce from 25 to 35 per cent.
For more details, readers can call FMM Perak branch along Off Jalan Raja Dihilir at 05 548 8660 or email to fmmperak@fmm.org.my.
