SUNGAI BULOH: The emphasis should be on creating quality jobs when providing employment opportunities to ensure progressive career development, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan (pic).
Stating that impressive government policies on paper mean nothing if not delivered to the people, the minister said that fair wages and technological advancement should ultimately translate into tangible improvements in people's lives, including better employment prospects, sufficient incomes and opportunities to acquire new skills.
He said the government should not rely solely on reports and statistics from its offices but needed to listen directly to the people to understand their needs.
The Sungai Buloh MP said this at a townhall held in Kota Damansara at the Madani Community Programme here on Saturday (Oct 17).
"This is the spirit of Malaysia Madani. A good policy is not one that merely looks impressive on paper; it must deliver tangible benefits to the people," he said.
"When we talk about national progress, we should not focus solely on economic figures or technological advancement. We must also consider the quality of people's lives.
"Do they have good jobs? Do they earn sufficient incomes? Do they have opportunities to improve themselves and build a better future?" Ramanan said.
Ramanan said the programme was part of the government's efforts to engage directly with the public, understand their concerns and ensure they had access to information on assistance and services provided by ministries and government agencies.
On employment, Ramanan stressed the importance of equipping young people with skills that matched industry requirements, while encouraging existing workers to continuously upgrade their capabilities to remain competitive.
He said academic qualifications alone might no longer be sufficient in a rapidly changing employment landscape, as employers increasingly valued practical skills and the ability to adapt to new technologies.
"Young people must understand the skills required by industry, while existing workers must continue acquiring knowledge and improving their capabilities," he said.
Ramanan also highlighted the importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in preparing Malaysians for the workforce.
The minister said employment placement rates for certain training programmes had reportedly increased from 95% to 98%.
"Employer satisfaction was also reported at 97.2%, and employment outcomes should be measured not only by whether graduates secured jobs but also by whether they could retain their positions and meet employers' expectations.
"It is not enough for someone to secure employment today only to lose that job the following month. We must also consider whether employers are satisfied with the quality of graduates and whether employees can remain in their jobs," he said.
Ramanan said the government was also leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to improve job-matching services through the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso).
He encouraged jobseekers to use online employment platforms to identify suitable vacancies and explore opportunities that matched their qualifications and skills.
He also cited the National Graduate Employability Fair 2026, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, as an example of efforts to connect jobseekers with employers.
It was reported that more than 1,400 jobseekers had secured employment through the event, with salary offers reaching RM8,000.
"Beyond employment, the government wants to ensure that small businesses and young entrepreneurs could benefit from technological advancements.
"Digital tools could help small business owners expand their markets and manage their operations more efficiently, while young people could use newly acquired skills to explore online business opportunities.
"The government can provide the opportunities, information and support. However, the people must be willing to take the next step," said Ramanan.
Ramanan said the Madani Community Programme would continue to provide a platform for members of the public to seek information, enquire about available assistance and raise issues requiring the attention of the authorities.
He added that the ultimate objective was to ensure that government initiatives translated into better career prospects, improved livelihoods and a higher quality of life for Malaysians.
At the same event, Ramanan also held a townhall to respond to complaints and requests from residents in Kota Damansara.
Requests ranged from better flood mitigation efforts to providing better upskilling and certification for teachers in schools in the area.
