02-07-2025
S‘wak vocational students set sights on first-ever Golden Hands Award at national skills competition
Kong (third left), assisted by a student operating a robotic arm, officiates the closing ceremony as Jamali (third right) and others look on.
BINTULU (July 3): Sarawak's top vocational talents have been urged to aim for excellence and bring home the Golden Hands Award (Anugerah Tangan Emas) at the upcoming Kolej Vokasional (KV) Skills National-Level competition 2025, to be held this September.
Chairman of the Sarawak Zone Council of KV/SMT Principals and Directors, Jamali Muhamad, said the mission is clear ― to secure the Golden Hands Award for the very first time.
'We hope this year we will see a representative from the Sarawak Zone emerge victorious in several national-level categories. It is not impossible ― we've done well before, but we've yet to win the Golden Hands Award,' he said during the KV Skills Zone Sarawak 2025 closing ceremony at KV Bintulu here yesterday.
The event was officiated by Steven Kong Kai Seng, special officer to the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Jamali also highlighted the strong track record of KV institutions in graduate employability, noting that they often rank among the highest nationwide.
He added that the government has provided substantial grants to ensure the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) becomes the first choice, rather than an alternative, for students.
'Our KV students are contributing meaningfully to national development. They are the driving force to elevate TVET as the top educational pathway,' he said.
He also encouraged parents to expose their children to TVET opportunities from an early stage, as it offers a solid foundation for careers in various growing sectors.
This year, 13 outstanding students have been selected to represent Sarawak at the national-level competition, which will be held in Melaka and Negeri Sembilan this September.
Meanwhile, KV Bintulu director Sahibi Salleh expressed appreciation for the opportunity to host the KV Skills Zone Sarawak 2025 competition, describing it as a meaningful platform to elevate technical and vocational excellence among students.
He underscored the importance of the event as a stage to showcase the potential of vocational college students across a wide range of technical disciplines.
'This competition not only enhances technical skills, but also fosters innovation, teamwork, and collaboration among students,' he said.
Sahibi further noted that such platforms are essential in assessing students' mastery of their fields while instilling the work ethic required to succeed in real-world industrial environments.
'It is through competitions like this that we cultivate the excellence, discipline, and professionalism needed to thrive in today's competitive industries,' he concluded. Golden Hands Award Kolej Vokasional lead Skills National-Level competition
