Kemas wants 50 per cent of its trainees to become successful entrepreneurs

KUCHING: The state Community Development Department ( Kemas) is targeting at least 50 per cent of Malaysian Skills Certificate-Accreditation of Prior Achievement ( SKM-PPT) holders in Sarawak to become successful entrepreneurs.

State Kemas acting director Dayang Monalizawati Abang Ismail said 76 trainees received the SKM- PPT certificates last year, covering three areas namely – Women’s Dressmaking Level I, which had 24 participants, Food Preparation and Production Level II with 35 participants, and Breadmaking Level II, with 17 participants. “They are the first batch to receive the SKM- PPT certificates here,” she said after the presentation at the Malaysia Productivity Corporation ( MPC) premises here on Wednesday.

The event was jointly hosted by Kemas Sarawak and Skills Development Department.

According to Dayang Monalizawati, 33 people are pursuing the SKM- PPT certificates this year – five in Women’s Dressmaking Level I, and 28 in Pastry Making Level II.

She said Kemas’ SKM-PPT initiative is aimed at giving individuals opportunities to gain recognition without having to attend formal training at any skills training centre.

Dayang Monalizawati added that the recognition is accorded with their previous experience, achievements and excellence in non-formal skills as defined under the National Occupational Skills Standard (SKPK) of the Ministry of Human Resources.

She stressed that while Kemas conducts various courses for the people, these courses would be meaningless if the trainees could not become entrepreneurs later on.

“Therefore starting from this batch of graduates, we hope to see many of them setting up their own business and becoming successful entrepreneurs one day,” said Dayang Monalizawati.