IMM lauds move for firms to prioritise Sarawakians in job opportunities
BINTULU: Thestategovernment’s recent move to urge companies to prioritise Sarawakians into their employment is a great opportunity not to be missed, says Institute of Materials Malaysia ( IMM) Bintulu branch chairman Raymond Plen.
“We need to equip ourselves with the correct skill- sets and improve our competency.
“While other professional societies will do their part to upskill Sarawakians in their respective skill- sets, IMM intends to do the same with certification in materials-related skill- sets such as blasting and painting, coating inspection, welding, welding inspection, corrosion, material technology and other related skill-sets,” he said.
What IMM has done in the 1990s, Raymond hoped that they could emulate the same for Sarawakians and Bintulu people in particular, to spearhead the development of local people.
He said this at a IMM Forum here recently.
IMM president Azmi Noor, treasurer Suradi Yasin and its education committee chairman Max Ong were also present.
The event was held to get feedback and suggestions on what the people think IMM could do in Bintulu in order to help the local people to step up and take the challenge to become skilled workers.
“I believe most of your colleagues are actually over qualified in terms of experience. However, they still lack in terms of certification to enable them to be categorised as skilled workers.
“As a local Bintulu guy myself, I would like the local people be known as skilled workers, not only in Sarawak or Malaysia but in the world. We have proved it with our scaffolders,” said Raymond.
He said the decision they took today would in some ways affect Bintulu’s future generations.
IMM is a non-profit professional society, something like the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia ( IEM). However, IMM doesn’t have the government backing like IEM does..
IMM was formed in 1986 and was registered with the Registrar of Societies ( RoS) in 1987.
It is supported by Petronas and many other oil and gas companies since 1990 and that is why there is the requirement for the IMM- certified coating inspectors and IMM- certified blasters and painters in the Petronas technical standards.
“Prior to 1990, all coating inspectors working in Malaysia were expatriates and the oil and gas operators paid them over RM15,000 per month in salaries.
“The entry qualification for coating inspectors with NACE Certification then was O-levels with some blasting and painting experience or prior experience working with paint manufacturers.
“These people were not even graduates with diploma or degrees. In those days, a Malaysian needed to travel to United States three times over three years to complete the NACE coating inspector certification at a cost of more than RM30,000. How many Malaysians can afford this in the 1980s and early 1990s,” Raymond said.
IMM also worked with TAFE Australia in 1990 to introduce the IMM-TAFE coating inspector certification at a cost of RM3,000 with completion within one year for graduates (diploma/degree) and non-graduates (SPM/STPM) who have blasting and painting knowledge and experience.
He added that since 1990, IMM had produced more than 600 IMM- certified coating inspectors earning more than RM5,000 per month upon completion.