90 graduates complete MySTEP program
KOTA KINABALU: Ninety public university graduates completed the Short-term Training and Placement Initiative (MySTEP) program carried out by Britay Asia (M) Sdn Bhd in collaboration with the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Student Career and Entrepreneurship Development Center (PKPKP).
Director of UMS PKPKP, Dr Soon Singh Bikar Sing, said the program was implemented for two weeks involving participants from all districts of Sabah.
The participants consisted of graduates of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), International Islamic University Malaysia (UIAM), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) and UMS graduates themselves.
“All the participants will work with the industry where the first six months salary payment is made through Britay Asia (M) Sdn Bhd,” he said in a statement after the graduation ceremony of the MySTep Britay @ UMS 2022 program, at the Postgraduate Auditorium, here, recently.
The opening ceremony was officiated by UMS Vice Chancellor, Professor Datuk ChM. Ts. Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin. Also present was Britay Managing Director Haji Zuber Mohd Isa.
According to Soon, it is certain that the graduates will gain valuable experience and exposure in working with the industry.
“They will also have the potential to be absorbed and work directly with the industry,” he said.
Meanwhile, Taufiq in his speech said MySTEP is one of the Malaysian Family Job Assurance Initiative programs which offers 80,000 job opportunities in the public sector, governmentowned companies (GLCs) and strategic partners.
“I believe this program will not only guarantee job placement to participants, but also during the 14 days of various activities such as soft skills training, industry briefings and interview sessions are conducted involving almost 40 industries.
“To all the participants, your career journey has already begun. Face it with dedication, enthusiasm and sincerity. Never feel doubt about your potential,” he said.
Earlier, Zuber in his welcoming speech informed that the MySTEP program was introduced to tackle unemployment, increase marketability and stimulate the recovery of the domestic economy.
“This program is sponsored by Khazanah Nasional. On the part of Britay Asia, we are given the responsibility as implementing managers.
“This co-organising collaboration with UMS is the first to be held in Sabah,” said
Zuber who also announced that the salary offered to the participants is RM2,150 per month.
The industries involved in the program are Golden Borneo Center Sdn Bhd, Glopec Sdn Bhd, Kuo Dental Sdn Bhd, JMD Group, Sri Jutaya Sdn Bhd, Astana Hotel, Ezytape Sdn Bhd, Topaz Travel d Borneo Sdn Bhd, Mina Trading , VE AutoCool PLT and NUVIS Sabah Beauty Institution.
It involves a sponsorship of RM1.4 million from Khazanah Nasional.
The MySTEP program received encouraging response from local graduates.
A participant from Kota Belud, Thasnim Syafira Rosnawi, 24, said the two-week training provided a lot of new knowledge, especially in increasing selfconfidence and effective communication techniques.
“The experience gained from this programme is very valuable and enjoyable, thus preparing yourself before the placement to work with the industry.
“Here we learn about soft skills for free, which will usually be charged for the same training programmes outside,” he said.
Thasnim who is also a graduate of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) said this after the MySTEP Training Graduation Ceremony at Universiti Malaysia
Sabah (UMS), here recently.
According to her, other graduates who did not participate this time should seize the opportunity if they see MySTEP recruitment advertisements in the future.
“I also hope that such programme will be continued to increase marketability and overcome the problem of unemployment among youths in Sabah,” said the 2021 graduate.
Meanwhile, UMS Faculty of Business, Economics and Accounting (FPEP) graduate, Nur Rafiq Syafiq Izam Yahya, 23, said that the MySTEP training program prepared graduates in all aspects to enter employment market.
“As fresh graduates, we have to compete with those who are more experienced in job search.
“However, through this program, we are trained and then given the opportunity to work with the industry for one year.
“Like myself, after the interview session which was one of the highlights during the twoweek program, I finally got a job placement with a construction industry company based in Kota Kinabalu,” he said.
The youth from Sandakan also described the efforts introduced by the government as very timely in overcoming the unemployment rate in Sabah.
“In the first six months, our salary will be funded through Syarikat Britay Asia (M) Sdn Bhd, a company that is responsible for implementing the MySTEP program.
“If the industry sees a good personality and quality of work, they may absorb us to work full time,” said Rafiq.