Hands-on experience: Ahmad (seated) trying out the crane skill simulation programme during his visit to Akademi Binaan Malaysia Southern Region in Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: Members of the public have been urged to stop speculating about the Ulu Tiram police station attack as it could affect investments and the tourism industry.
Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said Johor is the highest investment destination in the country and is one of the important gateways for tourists to enter the country.
“It is a shocking incident, but at the same time, there is no need to come to conclusions.
“Do not create any speculation that could scare away future investments and tourists from coming into our country.
“If the police say the incident has nothing to do with Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), then this is what we have to believe.
“I also believe in the wisdom of our enforcement agencies in carrying out investigations, so we leave it to them,” Ahmad said.
He said this after launching the Digital Construction Competency Skill Centre at Akademi Binaan Malaysia (ABM) Southern Region here yesterday.
ABM is the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).
Ahmad, who is also an Umno supreme council member, advised members to be mindful when coming out with a statement on the matter.
“Speculation will only make things worse; we want people, especially investors and tourists, to come to our state,” he said.
Last Friday, two policemen were killed after a man attacked a police station in Ulu Tiram.
Meanwhile, Ahmad said entrepreneurial and digitalisation training courses will boost the marketability of TVET graduates and provide the country with a sustainable workforce.
He said CIDB has streamlined all its TVET training centres with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) courses.
Ahmad added, however, that this effort is not enough and must be backed by updated courses and research from local universities.“TVET institutions such as ABM must find ways to work together with local universities to expand the knowledge and skills of their graduates.
“There is a perception that those who graduate from ABM will have a high salary; this needs to be changed. We must move them out of just being salary earners.
“It is high time that these graduates learned how to market their skills and adapt to the current demand of digitalisation, which is why university intervention is needed.
“Universities can help create entrepreneur and digitalisation training courses, which will be beneficial to TVET graduates,” Ahmad said.
