Improving bumiputra lives

PUTRAJAYA: When Hamisan Sapie’s foster father died, he thought his life would go into a downward spiral.

The fifth of seven children, he wanted to help support his family because his foster mother was unemployed.

But he could not land a job due to his poor SPM results.

Today, the 19-year-old orang asli lad from Kuala Lipis is soaring high thanks to the Peneraju Skills Programme by Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera.

He is now employed by an aircraft components manufacturer.

“I help make and assemble aeroplane wings. I feel good because I have my own income and I can help feed my family, thanks to this programme,” said Hamisan at a Yayasan Peneraju event at Perdana Putra.

He and a few other programme participants shared their experiences in front of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, several ministers and the board of trustees.

“I applied for the programme and was selected to train for six months in aircraft component manufacturing. I learnt about the different types of aircraft and their components.

“Now I earn a decent pay and I get to learn even more from some very experienced aircraft engineers.

“My ambition is to become chief aircraft engineer one day,” he added.

Najib said Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera has developed 10,000 bumiputra talents since 2012 under its three programmes – Peneraju Tunas, Peneraju Skil and Peneraju Profesional.

“This means 25% of the foundation’s target to develop 40,000 bumiputra talents by 2020 has been met, with the introduction of 117 programmes, costing RM206mil.

“Many graduates of these programmes have gone on to secure jobs and are earning steady incomes.

“I was fascinated by the story of Mohd Zulfadly Abdul Razzaq from Perak.

“He was a welding technician with a pay of RM3,000 a month before joining the Peneraju Skil programme in 2014, having only an SPM qualification.

“After two weeks of training, Zulfadly was offered a job as piping field engineer with an international oil and gas company, and now earns RM17,000 a month,” said Najib.

He urged corporations, government-linked companies, small and medium-scale enterprises, and institutions of higher learning to come forward and help Yayasan Peneraju.

Also present at the event were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Second Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani and Yayasan Peneraju chief executive Raja Azura Raja Mahayuddin.

Raja Azura said that those interested in applying for the programmes should go to the foundation website at www.yayasanpeneraju.com.my.

Earlier, Najib chaired a Yayasan Peneraju Board of Trustees meeting.