Foundation gives youths hope
PM: Young bumiputras achieving dreams thanks to agency’s programme
PUTRAJAYA: Muhammad Fajrul Omar Muhamad Ridzuan, 23, has set up a “mini Yayasan Peneraju” in honour of the foundation which gave him the chance to improve his skills when he was at his lowest point.
His mini foundation helps finance young people who want to take up diving and later use the skill to earn an income.
Relating his story, Muhammad Fajrul said he landed a job as a ship electrical technician with an oil and gas company after graduating from Universiti Kuala Lumpur in 2015. However, he was laid off six months into the job as business was poor.
“I was upset because it was really my dream to work underwater,” said the young man with a diploma in marine electric and electronic engineering.
He was scrolling through Facebook when he chanced upon an advertisement for a scuba instructor course offered by Yayasan Peneraju.
Yayasan Peneraju is an agency under the Economic Planning Unit that focuses on strengthening bumiputra capacity building through academic and vocational education.
After completing the course, Muhammad Fajrul took a bold step and set up his own company – Blackpearl Dive Team.
“The mini foundation is my way of giving other youngsters the chance to acquire skills that can make them valuable in the job market.
“I know this is helpful because I was given the same opportunity by the foundation which I am very thankful for,” he added.
Muhammad Fajrul is among 49 young bumiputras who have benefitted from various skills and educational programmes initiated by Yayasan Peneraju. Their stories have been compiled into a book titled #iniceritasaya (This is my Story), launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Nur Hanani Nor Azman, 16, has a lot to be thankful for. Yayasan Peneraju not only sponsored her education but also gave her extra coaching in her weak subjects.
“During school breaks, they sent me for intensive courses in English, my weakest subject,” said the Kelantan-born girl who is a student at SM Sains Seri Puteri in Kuala Lumpur.
From scoring a B in English in her UPSR, she scored an A for the paper during PT3. In fact, she scored As in all 10 subjects in that examination. Nur Hanani said she is aiming for straight As in her SPM and aspires to be a surgeon.
The Prime Minister, in his remarks, hoped the success stories of these people would inspire others to work hard to achieve their dreams.
“Stories in #iniceritasaya prove that dreams can come true. It is just a matter of how bad you want it and how hard you are willing to work for it,” he said.
Najib also launched the Super High Income Programme which is aimed at increasing the number of bumiputras in high-paying professional jobs.
“The aim is to boost their professional value by offering specific training and certification. With the new set of skills, these bumiputra professionals can secure employment with monthly salaries of more than RM20,000,” he said.
The courses are for those with working experience in the financial services, business services, health, maritime and aerospace sectors. Offers for the courses, to be financed by Bank Rakyat, will be open by year end.
The Prime Minister was pleased with the foundation’s success in developing the talent of some 16,000 bumiputras in 200 programmes, and noted that the employment rate among this group had recorded a quantum leap of 90% compared to 77% last year.