KOTA KINABALU: Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes must be flexible and industry-driven to meet market demands, especially in regions anticipating new investments and emerging sectors.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said training should no longer be bound by rigid structures, and instead allow industry players the freedom to design and implement programmes that equip trainees with practical, job-ready skills.
“If a company needs 200 skilled workers, let them train these youths themselves. What matters is that the training is relevant and directly linked to employment opportunities, even if the certification comes from the company rather than the ministry.
“We need to close the gap between what central agencies are teaching and what the industry actually needs,” he said when launching the Esteel Enterprise Sabah Sdn Bhd project’s first phase in the state at the Sabah International Convention Centre, here, on Friday (May 30).
Also present were Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, his deputy and Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, Green Esteel Group chairman You Zhenhua, Esteel Enterprise Sabah Sdn Bhd managing director Nick Xu Yihang and group director Jiang Hairung, and State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong.
He stressed that the traditional model, where training institutions operate independently of industry input, risks producing graduates whose skills do not align with real-world needs.
“Stop burdening industries with bureaucracy and outdated technical rules. Think about the future of our youth,” he added.
Anwar shared successful collaborations in Kuala Lumpur’s High Tech area, the Johor-Singapore Economic Zone, and Melaka as examples where industry and academia jointly shape training to meet market needs.
He said such models should be introduced in Sabah, particularly in light of upcoming large-scale investments.
Referring specifically to Sabah’s upcoming green steel project, Anwar said such initiatives should become showcases of sustainable and inclusive development, stressing the need to prioritise local participation.
“Training is one thing, but there must also be roles for local subcontractors and vendors. We want this to be a model that delivers benefits at the community level,” he said.
He also commended local and federal agencies for their efforts to build a competent workforce, noting that TVET must evolve to be inclusive, responsive, and aligned with current hiring trends.
“Let industries take the lead because they know what they need. If that means sending trainees to Kuala Lumpur or even China for exposure, so be it. What matters is producing competent, employable graduates,” he said.
He urged ministries not to impose unnecessary technical hurdles, but instead support both students and employers in building a future-ready workforce.
He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to supporting Sabah’s development through meaningful collaboration and policies that empower local talent and industry.
