Malaysia's NTW offers 65,000 free courses to 5 mln ASEAN citizens
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has reaffirmed its strong commitment to developing a world-class skills training sector by expanding its annual National Training Week (NTW) beyond national borders for the first time, aiming to benefit at least 5 million citizens across ASEAN, with an estimated value of almost USD600 million (RM2.5 billion).
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the June 14-21 NTW will offer 65,000 free skills development courses covering areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation, green tech and leadership.
He said the training will feature participation from top global training entities such as Microsoft, Udemy, Awantech and Alibaba Cloud, including Malaysian training providers.
'For the first time, we will be expanding these high-quality training opportunities beyond our borders to our friends all over ASEAN. Throughout the one week, we aim to provide exposure to these high-quality skills training courses to at least 5 million people, citizens of ASEAN.
'This is Malaysia's investment in ASEAN. It is an investment for human capital development. Again, our ambition is to make ASEAN the most skilled region in the world through deeper and more meaningful partnership with our fellow member states,' he said in his opening address at the ASEAN Human Capital Development Investment Symposium (AHCDIS) here today.
Also present was Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) chairman Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid.
Sim added that the two-day symposium, which began at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) today, is the first of four major events under the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025 banner.
It will be followed by the ASEAN Training Market Conference in July, the ASEAN TVET Conference in August, the Global Skills Forum and also an ASEAN Labour Ministerial Meet Forum in October.
'I hope participants will use this platforms to strengthen our human capital development sector network across the region, growing together, developing together to make ASEAN the most skilled region in the world, attracting talents, investments, innovations as well as growth and prosperity into our neighbourhood,' he said.
Introduced in May 2023, NTW is a full week of nationwide training events and activities that bring together organisations and individuals from various backgrounds and industries to experience a multitude of learning and development opportunities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
17 minutes ago
- The Sun
Gamalux: Mandate SAF use to boost Malaysia's green aviation
KUALA LUMPUR: Mandatory purchases of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by local airlines at Malaysian airports are necessary to drive adoption and unlock the country's potential in the SAF sector, said Gamalux Oils Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Usman Ahmed. Usman said Malaysia has the industrial capacity and feedstock availability to support SAF production at scale, but policy intervention is needed to create demand certainty. 'We have all the feedstocks such as used cooking oil, palm oil mill effluent, empty fruit bunch oil and spent bleaching earth oil. 'In my humble opinion, what Malaysia needs is a regulatory policy framework that enables SAF blending and mandates purchase by national airlines at all airports in the country,' he told Bernama after appearing on Bernama TV's The Nation programme titled 'The Future of Sustainable Aviation Fuel'. SAF is a low-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel, produced from sustainable feedstocks, including used cooking oil and agricultural waste. Responding to concerns about the scalability of used cooking oil as a SAF feedstock, Usman affirmed its viability in substantial volumes. 'According to export data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Malaysia exports approximately 600,000 tonnes of used cooking oil annually, a substantial volume that makes it a viable feedstock for any SAF production facility,' he said. While Malaysia does not currently have SAF production plants, Usman pointed out that pre-treatment and refining facilities are already in place. 'We export our products to companies such as BP, Eni of Italy, Neste of Finland, as well as other European and Asian firms, which convert them into tailor-made SAF. Regarding the SAF industry's value, Usman estimated that Malaysia exports around 1.5 million tonnes of SAF-grade or hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) feedstock annually. 'Based on current prices of around US$1,100 (US$1 = RM4.22) per tonne, we're looking at US$15 to US$18 billion worth of commodity products exported annually,' he said. Usman noted that while SAF is more expensive than conventional jet fuel, the cost impact on passengers would be modest if SAF blending is mandated. 'At the end of the day, the cost is borne by the passenger, possibly with some government subsidy, but we must recognise that this is for the greater good, as it supports the decarbonisation of aviation and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,' he explained. Usman added that global geopolitical tensions and commodity price volatility continue to affect the SAF price gap, making regulatory certainty even more vital. He said Malaysia is on the right track with the government's National Energy Transition Roadmap and its 2050 net-zero emissions target already in place, adding that a regulatory policy framework to support SAF blending would further strengthen the country's progress.
Barnama
21 minutes ago
- Barnama
Influencer Teardowns Highlight Midea's Role In Global AC Supply Chain
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- Chinese company Midea, the world's largest producer of residential inverter air conditioners (ACs), has drawn attention to its self-developed inverter compressor following teardown reviews of ACs by influencers in Malaysia and Thailand, which have sparked widespread discussion. Many viewers were surprised to discover that top Japanese brands like Panasonic and Daikin use Guangdong Meizhi Compressor Company (GMCC) compressors—a core component manufactured by Midea. Malaysian tech DIYer Berani Buat disassembled units from both brands, uncovering the GMCC label and surprising viewers who expected Japanese-made core components, while Thai influencers including Daddy Tips, Lungchang, BT Beartai, and Extreme IT echoed similar findings, showcasing how the GMCC compressor plays a central role in cooling performance. In a statement, Midea said these reviews challenge perceptions of brand origin and highlight its role not just as a supplier but as a global innovator in air conditioning, quietly powering ACs with cutting-edge compressor technology. Often referred to as the 'heart' of an AC, the compressor is the most critical component in an air conditioning system, directly influencing cooling efficiency and energy consumption, whereby inverter technology optimises the compressor's speed according to room temperature fluctuations. Midea's self-developed inverter compressor delivers up to 50 per cent energy savings over traditional models and 20 per cent over standard inverters, and its artificial intelligence algorithm analyses indoor temperatures to reduce fluctuations, boosting comfort and efficiency. Furthermore, Midea's advanced compressor and inverter technology deliver strong cooling, quiet performance, and energy efficiency ideal for Southeast Asia's hot climate, as Midea ACs feature Prime Guard with seven key protections, designed for regional challenges. The company's technological leadership has gained global recognition, serving over 400 million users in 200 countries. It has exported 8.3 million inverter ACs to Southeast Asia in 2022, hence contributing significantly to regional growth. -- BERNAMA
Barnama
21 minutes ago
- Barnama
Oversupply, Price Pressures Stall Glove Industry Recovery
REGION - CENTRAL > NEWS KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian glove sector remains under pressure as persistent oversupply, cautious customer sentiment, and pricing competition continue to weigh on recovery prospects. In a research note released today, Public Investment Bank Bhd (PublicInvest) stated that the latest quarterly results from glove manufacturers under its coverage showed a sequential decline in sales volumes, primarily due to earlier front-loading activities by United States customers. 'We gather that customers remain cautious, with most adopting a wait-and-see stance, delaying sizeable purchases amid uncertainty from changes in tariff policy. In light of subdued demand visibility in the near term, we downgrade our sector call to 'Neutral' from 'Overweight',' said PublicInvest. bootstrap slideshow It also said that price competitiveness remains a key headwind. Although tariff adjustments have narrowed the average selling price (ASP) gap between China and Malaysia, China's glove prices remain relatively uncompetitive in the US market. Specifically, China's price is US$27 per 1,000 pieces, compared to Malaysia's US$20 per 1,000 pieces, even factoring in an 80 per cent tariff. 'However, the recent invocation of emergency powers has prevented President Donald Trump from enacting broader tariff hikes. Assuming a more conservative scenario where China faces only a 10 per cent reciprocal tariff, China's ASP will be at US$24/1k pcs, significantly closing the pricing gap with Malaysia,' it added. The research house said that Chinese producers may absorb part of the tariff cost to defend market share, which would likely keep global ASPs subdued and limit near-term recovery for Malaysian glove makers. 'Despite losing market share in the US market, Chinese glove manufacturers are aggressively increasing market share in the non-US market, especially the European Union, pricing as low as between US$14 to US$15/1k pcs. 'China is currently expanding capacity outside of China in a bid to retain global competitiveness,' it added.
