Najib: A million opportunities await under new programme

KUALA LUMPUR: About one million apprenticeship positions will be created through the MyApprenticeship programme.

Launched yesterday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, he said the programme would especially benefit women and the younger generation.

“Apprenticeship is not a new concept in this country, but this programme is designed to be more comprehensive and holistic.

“It will ensure that workers will be equipped with skills needed at present and in the future, especially in the landscape of the Industrial Revolution 4.0,” he said.

Najib said that the one million apprenticeship positions would be offered at Government-linked companies and the private sector until the end of 2019.

Apart from benefitting those who signed up as apprentices, the programme will also benefit the companies and organisations offering these positions, he said.

“When a country has many employees who have the skills that are needed at present and in the future (by the companies), then the companies will be able to enjoy rapid growth,” he said.

Through the 18 memoranda of understanding signed yesterday, almost 6,000 apprenticeship positions would be offered for a start, he said.

Among the companies were AirAsia, Gamuda, Gerbang Alaf Restaurants and Malindo Airways.

To encourage more companies to provide apprenticeship positions so that the plan for the creation of one million jobs would be fulfilled, he announced tax cuts for the companies involved.

“I am happy to announce that the Government will give a double tax deduction to all companies involved in the realisation of this huge ini­tiative,” he said.

He also launched the MyApprenticeship portal, myapprenticeship.my, during the event.

Najib dismissed criticism of naysayers who claimed that the country’s economy was not growing.

Examples such as the “A” rating given by Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch for Malaysia for 2017 were proof that the country was doing well economically, he said.

“All these examples dispute and reject the claims by the Opposition that Malaysia is a bankrupt nation or a failed state that needs saving,” he added.

“Instead, we need to save our country from falling into the hands of those naysayers.”