Skills now mainstream pathway to Sarawak's future, says Bintulu MP
BINTULU (July 2): Skills are no longer a secondary option but have become a mainstream pathway toward building a sustainable and competitive future, said Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
His remarks were delivered by his special officer, Steven Kong Kai Seng, during the closing and prize-giving ceremony of the Kolej Vokasional (KV) Skills Zone Sarawak 2025 competition at KV Bintulu today.
'In today's increasingly competitive world, a skilled workforce is the backbone of national development,' he said.
Tiong noted that in Sarawak, job opportunities in skilled sectors are vast, ranging from construction and automotive to maintenance, electrical, mechanical, hospitality, tourism, and digital technology.
These industries, he said, are rapidly growing and require local youth equipped with hands-on expertise.
Tiong, who is also Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, highlighted that Sarawak is actively developing key sectors including renewable energy, the hydrogen economy, petrochemicals, sustainable tourism, and the digital economy – all of which require the involvement of highly skilled young professionals.
'Graduates from vocational colleges are not only employable; they also have the potential to become technical entrepreneurs, licensed technicians, industrial service providers, and even workshop or business owners,' he added.
Commenting on the significance of the KV Skills competition, Tiong said such events serve not just as platforms to showcase talent and creativity but also train students to be innovative, disciplined, and ready to face real-world industrial challenges.
He expressed hope that the students would continue to have confidence in their vocational path, using their skills as key to entering an increasingly competitive job market.
'Participate in more competitions, undergo industrial training, and innovate not just for yourselves, but to contribute to Sarawak's progress,' he urged.
A total of 13 talented vocational students have been selected to represent Sarawak in the KV Skills 2025 national-level competition, scheduled for September in Melaka and Negeri Sembilan.
They earned their spots by winning respective categories at the Sarawak zone event.
Among them, Alif Mikael Abu Bakar from KV Matang s stood out, capturing both the 'Anugerah Tangan Emas' (Golden Hands Award) and the top prize in the Automotive Technology category.
Other winners representing Sarawak are Boniface Jantan Mujah (KV Bintulu) in Electrical Installation; Nur Amira Tasya Abdul Alim (KV Kuching) in Electronic Industries; Mcsteven Madang Tony (KV Betong) in Bricklaying; Sylestine Sabang Patrick (KV Betong) in Wall and Floor Tiling; Kerry Agan Tandang Bedi (KV Bintulu) in Mechanical Design CAD; Jessie Vannessa Stephen (KV Bintulu) in CNC Milling; Stephen Jilam Jiko (KV Matang) in Additive Manufacturing; Gabriel Abel Anam (KV Miri) in Welding Technology; Rachel Uting (KV Bintulu) in Cooking; Sanchita Jering Anthony (KV Bintulu) in Beauty Therapy; Alisya Sopia Sofian (KV Sibu) in Fashion Technology; and Muhd Muzafia Syah Mohd Apar (KV Miri) in IT Network and System Administration.
Organised by the Ministry of Education Malaysia and hosted by KV Bintulu, the competition brought together top vocational students from across Sarawak to compete in 13 skill-based categories.
The annual event is part of the government's ongoing initiative to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and identify future leaders in various technical sectors. Bintulu skills Tiong King Sing vocational
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