IEM Sabah supports RMK13 by advancing youth development in Sabah
With the launch of the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) in Parliament, the government has outlined a bold vision to reshape the nation's development framework, emphasizing fairness, resilience and technology-driven progress.
Behind every highway, water plant, or green energy system lies a less visible but crucial foundation: engineering talent.
As the leading professional engineering body in Sabah, the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM Sabah) is taking proactive steps to support RMK13 by strengthening the development of local engineering human capital. IEM Sabah has proposed three strategic initiatives to help the government advance talent development across the state.
1. Upskilling TVET Trainers for Industry 4.0
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is the bedrock for building a skilled workforce. However, to produce future-ready graduates, TVET trainers themselves must be technologically advanced. IEM Sabah is going to collaborate with MARA, the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT), and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) to establish an upskilling program for Sabah's TVET trainers. Courses will focus on Automation and control systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), Smart building technologies (e.g., BIM), Renewable energy and sustainable engineering
IEM also proposes the creation of an industry-academia interface platform to ensure that TVET syllabi remain aligned with real-world engineering needs.
2. Structured Internships and Mentorships to Prepare Young Engineers
A common issue faced by graduates is the 'qualification but no experience' gap. IEM Sabah is going to launch a Structured Internship and Mentorship Program, in collaboration with key agencies such as the Public Works Department (JKR), Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), and local councils, GLS and private sectors.
Under this program:
• Over 300 engineering students annually will be placed in real infrastructure projects.
• Each student will be matched with an experienced mentor engineer for career and technical guidance.
• Additional 'Engineering Graduate Bootcamps' will help fresh graduates transition into the workforce.
3. Strengthening Soft Skills and Professional Ethics
Engineering is not just about calculations and drawings. Successful engineers must also have the following skills and professional ethics such as ethical and responsible, effective communicators, good team players and project-minded and technically literate competency.
To address this, IEM Sabah will offer training on the following subjects: Engineering ethics and duty of care, Technical reporting and contract basics, Public communication for infrastructure projects, Professional English and Bahasa Malaysia communication.
These skills are essential for building trust and accountability in the public infrastructure delivery system.
In Conclusion: Engineering Human Capital Is Sabah's Growth Engine
Whether we speak of better roads, clean water, green energy, or digital infrastructure, none can materialize without capable, local engineers. IEM Sabah urges all stakeholders — government, industry and academia — to join forces and build a future-ready engineering workforce for Sabah. By investing in our own youth, we are not just filling jobs — we are shaping the state's future.
To learn more about IEM Sabah's engineering programs or partnership opportunities, please visit our official website www.myiem.org.my or contact our secretariat address:- Lot 25, 3rd Floor, Block C, Damai Point Commercial Centre, Lorong Damai Point, off, Jalan Damai, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
35 minutes ago
- The Star
South Korea pulls plug on AI textbooks, leaving schools, companies without funding for them
AI-powered textbooks are now not official South Korean textbooks, removing the legal and financial grounds for using them in schools. -- ST PHOTO: CHANG MAY CHOON SEOUL (The Korea Herald/ANN): South Korea's National Assembly passed a Bill on Monday (Aug 4) stripping artificial intelligence-powered digital textbooks of their legal status as official teaching materials, dealing a heavy blow to the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration's flagship education reform project. The amendment narrows the legal definition of textbooks to printed books and e-books, excluding 'learning support software using intelligent information technology'. This reclassifies AI-powered textbooks as just another type of educational material, not official textbooks. The new classification takes effect immediately upon promulgation, effectively removing the legal and financial foundations for using AI digital textbooks in schools. The amendment, drafted and passed unilaterally by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, is an updated version of the same legislation passed by the Assembly in 2024, which was ultimately scrapped after it was vetoed by then-deputy prime minister Choi Sang-mok, who was the country's acting president at the time. Initially launched as a flagship initiative of the Yoon administration, AI textbooks aimed to provide personalised learning experiences for students using advanced AI algorithms. At least 533.3 billion won (S$496 million) was allocated to the project in 2024 alone. The textbooks were piloted in the first semester of 2025 for English and mathematics classes in Grade 3 and Grade 4 of elementary school, and for English, mathematics, and computer science classes in middle and high schools. Despite the ambitious roll-out, the initiative faced widespread backlash from educators and parents, many of whom criticised the South Korean government for pushing the policy through without sufficient groundwork. In response, the South Korean Ministry of Education shifted to a school-by-school voluntary adoption model, after initially planning a nationwide mandate. Currently, the adoption rate of AI textbooks across schools hovers at around 30 per cent. The Bill's passage now leaves these schools without financial support for AI textbook subscriptions. A high school computer science teacher told The Korea Herald that although some schools secured subscription budgets for the second semester, future use is uncertain. 'Unless the textbooks retain their legal status, we won't be able to receive the necessary funding. It's now almost impossible to use them in class,' the teacher said. The publishing industry is also facing a looming crisis. Companies that invested heavily in AI textbook development, expecting the government to mandate their use, now say they are on the verge of collapse. Several companies filed an administrative lawsuit against the South Korean Education Ministry in April, citing losses due to low adoption rates and policy flip-flopping. Industry representatives warn that without the legal textbook designation, usage rates could drop further, jeopardising the estimated 800 billion won in total investments made into AI textbooks. Layoffs and restructuring are now expected across the sector. A worker in her 30s from a major textbook publisher said her department may soon disappear. 'Many companies hired researchers and engineers to develop AI textbooks. Now, with education policy changing depending on who holds political power, we risk not only losing our jobs but also degrading the quality of education itself,' she said. Publishers have been staging a last-ditch push to reverse public sentiment and policy. Fourteen publishing companies have taken turns holding solo protests outside the National Assembly, while others have visited the Democratic Party of Korea's headquarters demanding reconsideration of the Bill. The South Korean Education Ministry has yet to present a concrete roadmap for winding down the AI textbook programme. A spokesperson said the ministry would suspend the current textbook review process, prepare guidance for schools to prevent disruption in the autumn semester, and consult with regional education offices to minimise confusion. -- THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Malaysiakini
39 minutes ago
- Malaysiakini
Fadhli questions use of funds from govt-linked entities in 13MP
PARLIAMENT | PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari questioned the inclusion of billions in funds from government-linked entities in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), saying it paints a false picture of the government's fiscal abilities. The Pasir Mas MP said the sum - RM120 billion from government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and another RM60 billion through public-private partnerships (PPPs) - was never included in previous national plans.
Focus Malaysia
an hour ago
- Focus Malaysia
What is so special about tourism investment zones?
LAST Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tabled in Parliament the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), with RM611 bil earmarked to be spent from 2026 to 2030. What caught my eye was the heading of a Bernama report 'Malaysia tourism growth under 13MP with new investment zones'. Those who have attended the Travel and Tours Enhancement Course (TTEC), rolled out after I have conducted the Training-Of-Trainers in February 2022, may be able to recall that one of the six transformation strategies in the National Tourism Policy of 2020-2030 is to create 'Special Tourism Investment Zones'. Undoubtedly, the many grand master plans unveiled by the federal government over the years have always been world-class, but not so when it comes to implementation and execution. By the end of this year, six years would have elapsed in the 11-year National Tourism Policy. And now, the narrative on STIZs seems to have shifted with the latest announcement that they will be established from next year, and four states have been identified viz. Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Sarawak for preserving heritage sites and enhancing rural homestays. According to Anwar, these zones will be the catalyst for new tourism products based on artistic, cultural, and heritage assets, as well as environmental areas like the Sungai Batu archeological site, the Lenggong Valley, and the Niah Caves which are recognised by UNESCO. He added that homestays will be upgraded to spur rural economies, aligning with Visit Malaysia 2026 preparations. Additionally, the Kuala Lumpur Heritage Initiative will restore landmarks such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Merdeka Square, blending modernity with cultural preservation. When conducting TTEC from 2022 to 2024, I informed participants that special tourism investment zones have yet to be established. But their potential will be immense if modelled after free trade zones (FTZs), such as those in Sungai Way and Ulu Klang in Selangor. FTZs were created after a huge piece of land was allocated and many factories built. Before commencement of manufacturing, the entire area is fenced up and the customs will ensure that materials are brought in from entry points and goods sent out to exit points directly without duty. Hence, I imagined that new zones will be created for STIZs with incentives to attract substantial investments on new tourism goods and services. But from the recent announcement, STIZs will now be used as the banner to rehash, upgrade or revitalise existing tourism products. When STIZ was first proclaimed in 2019, four areas were identified for pilot projects, specifically in Langkawi, Putrajaya-Sepang, Port Dickson and Tuaran-Kota Belud. Incentives such as tax reduction, grants, and infrastructure development were still in the works. That year, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad spoke at the World Tourism Conference in Kuala Lumpur that the STIZ will focus on infrastructure and technology-based investments. The aim was to stimulate and develop new and alternative tourism areas and products. Since then, the STIZ has not progressed beyond vision and mission statements to pragmatic ideas and concrete actions. But the latest announcement has won praises from various tourism industry leaders, either afraid of offending the government or being left out in future dialogues. One of the most effective new ways to develop and promote international and domestic tourism is to set up one-stop centres in cities and major towns all over the country. These tourism centres are to assemble all the best local foods, goods and services under one roof, making each one a unique experience for visitors. They can be a massive shed using the ground floor only or multi-stories like shopping centres. Success is assured if they are professionally managed like commercial malls. But they will fail if operated like government-built food courts where vendors are given priority over customers. The foods, goods and services offered should not be limited to halal only as they must also cater to non-Muslim visitors. If such one-stop tourism centres offer a great variety of local specialities, visitors would be happy to spend many hours shopping, dining and being entertained. Since 2018, I have written numerous published articles on my concept of one-stop tourism centres. Essentially, they require the help of the federal, state and local governments to provide the land and facilitate, and the private sector to build and operate, efficiently and profitably. The catchy name of Special Tourism Investment Zone (STIZ) ought to be used for developing and offering new tourism products, such as one-stop centres, which can become a must-visit in every city and major town. STIZ should not be used to rebrand or hype up long existing products. ‒ Aug 4, 2025 YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Bernama
