KKIP Aerospace Training Centre (KATC) chief executive officer Aminuddin Zakaria (left) and Sir Ventures Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Che Wan Imanuddin Takwa signing Memorandum of Understanding to offer training plus employment (TREM) in highly paid aircraft painting profession. - NSTP/OLIVIA MIWIL

KOTA KINABALU: A short term upskilling training programme will help unemployed graduates in Sabah secure a job with a monthly salary of up to RM11,000.

KKIP Aerospace Training Centre chief executive officer Aminuddin Zakaria said aircraft painting is a job in high demand in the aviation industry.

"With airlines in Malaysia now starting to fly again, all long-term parked aircraft will be reactivated and require painting services before being back in service hence the spike in demand for aircraft painters.

"For the starting salary, as they are new, it could be about RM2,500. We need about a year to upskill them, and we follow the aviation salary scale," he said after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Sir Ventures Sdn Bhd here.

It is learned that the salary scale can go up to RM11,000 in the country and higher when skilled painters work overseas as Sir Ventures is also supplying manpower to other countries such as Singapore and Germany.

Aminuddin added that the collaboration between the centre and Sir Ventures will see a total 60 candidates, recruited in three batches, to undergo a month of training with KATC here and another five months at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

He said the scheme is targeting to upskill and provide employment for graduates from Institute Kemahiran Mara who have already mastered painting works.

Meanwhile, the centre also signed another MoU with Iconix Skills Academy to produce the first batch of 25 skilled workforce in fibre-optics installation and maintenance.

He said the collaboration would cater to fibre optic graduates from Polytechnic Kota Kinabalu here as the programme will focus on Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) to support local utilities pipeline installation.

"By having these professionals in Sabah, it will help expedite the National Digital Infrastructure Plan (Jendela) which will provide wider connectivity coverage and better quality broadband in Sabah while preparing for future 5G network technology.

"IT Connectivity has become the key important element and enabler in E-economy thus there is a huge demand from the telecommunication companies in peninsular Malaysia and Sabah."

Present were state Assistant Industrial Development minister Tamin Zainal, Sir Ventures Snb Bhd chief executive officer Che Wan Imanuddin Takwa and Iconix Skills Academy programme manager Dr Daniel Yong Yun Thung.

Source : New Straits Times. By Olivia Miwil - May 27, 2022 @ 12:52pm