Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan

Dato’ R. SegarajahWhile lucrative jobs may be getting scarce for average Malaysians,it seems strange that they would turn up their noses at a chanceto get training and placement, with an allowance, to boot.Why is it that Sukardi, a youth from a village in Sumatra, can traverse the breadthof the island and cross the Straits of Malacca to seek employment in Malaysia,whereas the Malaysian youth cocooned in the safety of say, Shah Alam, provided withtraining to meet new challenges, and given a monthly allowance and a guaranteedjob, prefers to remain unemployed, awaiting that elusive ideal job that may nevercome.It is true that Malaysia has not been spared the consequences of the globaleconomic slowdown, given its position as one of the world’s leading exportersof manufactured products. The global decline in the demand for manufacturedproducts has hit Malaysian exporters hard, with its rippling effect on Malaysianworkers, particularly those engaged in themanufacturing sector.As of July 7, 2009, statistics compiled by As of July 7, 2009, statisticsthe Human Resources Ministry, showed compiled by the Humana cumulative figure of 38,732 workersretrenched, due to the prevailing economicResources Ministry,crisis. Of this figure, 29,712 were permanently showed a cumulativeterminated while 9,020 accepted voluntaryfigure of 38,732 workerstermination from their employment. Inaddition, 40,662 workers suffered paycutsand 4,112 workers were temporarilyretrenched, due to theprevailing economic crisis.laid-off. Given these circumstances, youwould expect that these workers wouldbe clamouring for new employmentopportunities as soon as possible to enable them maintain their current standardof living.The Government, in its determined effort to remain resilient and face the onslaught of spiralling unemployment figures, has been proactive, seizing this negativeeconomic climate as an opportunity to re-skill the affected workforce.A hefty sum of RM650mil has been allocated under both the Economic StimulusPackages to enable the ministry to undertake various training and placementprogrammes to not only reduce unemployment but also to provide employmentopportunities for Malaysians. The Train and Place programmes that target youths,unemployed graduates and retrenched workers, are aimed at equipping participantswith skills that will increase their employability to meet the challenges of the33