JEFF LEE KWANG SIANG, Ambitious Academy Sdn Bhd director
However, players need to be more aggressive, says Ambitious Academy chief
“There is a bright future for professionals in the aviation industry, as well as in the cruise and hotel sectors.”
THERE is vast opportunities for the aviation industry to grow in Malaysia. According to the
Malaysian Aviation Commission’s first industry report, Waypoint, released in August, several key airports in the country have exceeded their theoretical terminal design capacities or are expected to surpass their capacities in the next five years.
These i nclude Penang, Subang, L angkawi, Kota Baru, Miri, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu airports.
It was rep or te d that the Langkawi airport would have an upgraded terminal with an annual capacity of four million passengers, up from the current 1.5 million. The Kota Baru, Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu airports will also undergo expansion and upgrading.
In an interview with FlightGlobal, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said studies on the expansion were being carried out and could be completed by 2020.
There are plans to also expand the Kuala Lumpur International Airport by increasing the number of aircraft contact piers and developing a satellite terminal.
Ambitious Academy Sdn Bhd director Jeff Lee Kwang Siang said Malaysian aviation industry players needed to be more aggressive to reach new heights.
“As the industry grows, there will be greater requirement for talent. Malaysia has dedicated employees, hardworking and ex-
Malaysia has dedicated employees, hardworking and experienced people. But the industry lacks skilled employees and a proven management system.
JEFF LEE KWANG SIANG Ambitious Academy Sdn Bhd director
perienced people. But the industry lacks skilled employees and a proven management system,” he told NST Business.
Lee said Ambitious Academy planned to collaborate with airlines to provide focused training for crew members.
“We are in talks with a local airline for possible collaboration in the near future.”
Ambitious Academy is registered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Its training concept is IATAstructured and in line with global aviation standards.
Lee said the trainers were former senior cabin crew from premium airlines, with more than 10 years of training experience in Singapore and Malaysia.
“There is a bright future for professionals in the aviation industry as well as in the cruise and hotel sectors. In our interviews, some of our job applicants have said they like working in these industries because of the flexibility, career opportunities and a chance to travel the world.
“They see it differently from a nine-to-five job, which is routine and does not foster ingenuity and entrepreneurship. For some, possessing the entrepreneurship spirit will help them become their own bosses. Hence, we will see more professionals coming on board because these industries provide unique opportunities,” added Lee.