Karim: More GIATMARA centres to be set up

February 18, 2015

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (right) in a light moment with chairman of GIATMARA Malaysia Dato’ Dr Haji Jaujan bin Sambakong (centre) as his deputy during the visit.

KUCHING: Youth development in rural areas can be improved through the setting up of GIATMARA skills centre in every district in the state.

“By acquiring the relevant skills in these centres, youths in the rural areas can improve their living standard by getting empoyed to reduce the poverty rate. 

“The government is committed in helping the youths, especially those in the rural areas to further their studies. Hence, we encourage those with potentials to learn at our skills centres to prepare them for the future,” said Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah during a press conference after a visit by a delegation led by chairman of GIATMARA Malaysia Dr Haji Jaujan bin Haji Sambakong to his office at Wisma Sultan Tengah, PetraJaya near here yesterday.

According to Abdul Karim, the sudden focus on the development of youth and setting up of more skills centres in the state was because the state government intended to increase skilled manpower to meet the job demands in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

“We find that there are still many youths in rural areas having very little exposure to continue their studies in the field of skills development compared to those in urban areas.

“Hence, GIATMARA must and should play its role in guiding these youths in the rural areas so that they will not left out in the state’s progress and development in technology and at the same time equipping them with the relevant skills.

“At the moment we have 30 GIATMARA centres in each parlimentary constituency in the state. However, we need more participation from youths in the rural areas as it is our objective to bring them out and provide them with a brighter future,” said Karim.