Poor English skills a major complaint in every industry

GEORGE TOWN: Employers have voiced their concerns over the poor command of English among new graduates entering the job market.

Star Media Group Berhad editor-in-chief Datuk Leanne Goh (pic) said it was no secret that English proficiency was one of the vital skills lacking among Malaysian graduates.

"We see that is the major complaint in every industry," she said in her speech during the opening of the Star Education Fair 2017 at SPICE Arena on Saturday.

Quoting Alibaba Group founder and executive chairman Jack Ma, Goh said there is a need for people to think creatively, to be innovative and to really imagine.

"These are the traits that we need to empower our kids with," Goh said.

She then presented testimonials from past scholarship recipients of the Star Education Fund.

"We have given away RM108.3mil to 3,582 scholarship recipients since the fund was established 1994.

"This year, we have 29 partners-in-education which pledged a total of 272 scholarships valued at RM13mil.

"From this, Penangites will receive 53 scholarships worth over RM1mil from five of our partners-in-education," she said.

She thanked the five institutions from the northern region - Equator College, KDU Penang University College, Sentral College Penang, MSU College Penang and Sunway College Ipoh - for their pledge to contribute to the Star Education Fund.

Goh then welcomed three new partners-in-education namely Quest International University Perak, Oriental Nilam College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Malaysian Institute of Art this year. (2017)

She also welcomed Limkokwing University of Creative Technology on its return as a partner-in-education.

The Star Education Fair is undoubtedly the most effective platform to promote tertiary pathways offered by institutions of higher learning, since its inception in 1987.

The two-day fair, until Sunday, is held at SPICE Arena, Penang, from 11am to 7pm.

The one-stop education extravaganza features more than 100 exhibitors occupying over 200 booths.

Organised by Star Media Group Berhad, admission to the fair is free.