Len: Bumiputeras under-represented in accounting
KUCHING: One of the ways to increase Bumiputera involvement in the economic development of the state is to increase the number of Bumiputera professionals in accounting.
However, Assistant Minister for Workforce Development and Training Datu Len Talif Salleh said Bumiputeras were still under-represented in the accounting profession.
“The latest statistics from the Malaysian Institute of Accountants ( MIA) indicated that as of Jan 31, 2016, only 382 out of 1,848 of its members in Sarawak are Bumiputeras.
“This figure, however, is inflated by the number of Bumiputeras with local qualifications recognised only in Malaysia,” he said at the Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) Signing Ceremony between Malaysia Professional Accountancy Centre ( MyPAC) and Kolej Sunway Kuching at a hotel here yesterday.
According to him, most Bumiputera accountancy graduates often end up in government agencies as they view the government sector as job security which is their first priority.
“So, when it comes to possession of internationally recognised qualifications like the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants ( CIMA), or Certified Practising Accountants ( CPA) Australia, only 33 out of 1,320 MIA members or 2.5 per cent are Bumiputeras.
“This revealing statistic shows that while the Bumiputeras do have an interest in pursuing accounting, the challenge is to persuade them to pursue the professional qualification route like ACCA.”
In view of this, he pointed out that the state needed higher learning institutions such as Kolej Sunway Kuching to produce more high quality, industryrelevant accounting graduates particularly among Bumiputera students.
“I realise that instilling interest in a professional accountancy career among Bumiputera scholars is not easy and anyone who tries may face many obstacles.
“But Kolej Sunway Kuching has made it in the past by working with agencies like Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Bumiputera Sarawak ( Tegas), the Workforce Development Unit, Yayasan Sarawak, the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit ( Teraju) and non- governmental organisations with support from various principals and school counsellors,” said Len, who is also Tegas chairman.
He also commended the college for its contribution to the state’s talent development in the field of accountancy where over the past decade, it has consistently maintained a very high level of quality in the delivery of their accountancy programmes, as evidenced by its exceptional record in producing prize-winners and graduates in Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) and ACCA examinations.
“I congratulate Kolej Sunway Kuching for maintaining their platinum status for the past seven years. It is not an exaggeration to say that Kolej Sunway Kuching currently offers world- class education that is on par with the best institutions from overseas,” he remarked.
Len later witnessed the MoU signing ceremony which will see Kolej Sunway Kuching offering ‘ Peneraju Profesional Pensijilan Perakaunan’ ( PPPP) for ACCA certification; ‘Peneraju Profesional Akauntan Muda Kategory A’ ( PPAM-A) for CAT and ACCA certifications; MyPAC ACCA Last Milers for ACCA certification; and MyPAC’s Employer Partner Pathway for ACCA certification.
With the signing of the MoU, Bumiputera SPM school leavers in the state will have a new pathway to enter into professional accountancy courses at Kolej Sunway Kuching under the PPAMA programme.
Signing the MoU on behalf of Kolej Sunway Kuching was its chief executive officer Joseph Lim while MyPAC was represented by its chief executive officer Datuk Zaiton Hassan.
Meanwhile, Lim said the PPAMA programme aims to increase the number of certified professional accountants via the fastest route to a career in accountancy, namely CAT and ACCA professional qualifications.
“The main benefit of the PPAM-A programme is that it gives young and motivated scholars the opportunity to obtain internationally recognised qualifications while being funded at a leading education institution like Kolej Sunway Kuching,” he explained, adding that to be eligible for the scheme, the candidate must be Bumiputera, aged 19 years or below and must have completed SPM or O-Levels with a minimum of 5A’s including minimum A’s in Mathematics and English).
He also noted that over the past few days, the college has received over 60 applicants for PPAM-A from localities such as Kuching, Serian, Bau, Lundu, Mukah, Labuan and so on.
“Bumiputera students interested in the PPAM-A programme can apply directly through Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera’s website at www.yayasanpeneraju.com.my. There is no need to apply through Kolej Sunway Kuching,” he said.