BRUNEI-MUARA

AROUND 1,400 posts for trained and professional heavy machinery operators are available in the oil and gas industry as well as the ports and construction industries.

Local people with good driving skills, including in operating heavy machinery, are also very much in demand in light industries such as those relating to the agricultural, services and hospitality sectors.

This was disclosed yesterday by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah prior to a certificate presentation ceremony to 19 trainees who had completed the fourth Heavy Machinery Driving Course at the Youth Development Centre.

In his speech, YB Pehin Dato Hj Hazair said since the five-month course was introduced by the ministry through the Youth Development Centre in 2013, it has produced 63 Heavy Machinery Operators and 100 per cent of them have been employed in positions relevant to the skills they’ve acquired.

“Nevertheless, the number of participants who have completed the course is still too small compared to the demand in the job market that needs 1,400 trained and professional heavy machinery drivers in the oil and gas industry as well as in the ports and construction industries,” he told the audience.

The fourth Heavy Machinery Driving Course was held from January 14 to June 30. Acting Assistant Director of the Youth Development Centre Haswandi Hj Osman in his welcoming remarks said the course was jointly held with Megamas Training Company Sdn Bhd as the course consultant.

Meanwhile, the heavy machinery companies provided employment opportunities to the trainees who had completed the Heavy Machinery Driving Course.

Haswandi said the five-month course consists of two months of theory and practical training at the centre while during the remaining three months the trainees participated in a work placement programme at nine heavy machinery companies. The trainees also then received their class 4, 5, 6, 2 and 11 driving licences.

He said in the implementation of the recent fourth session of the course, the Youth Development Centre and Megamas Training Company Sdn Bhd had also successfully signed three new memoranda of understanding with companies of heavy machinery operators in the country.

With this, he added, the Youth Development Centre’s strategic partnership had increased to 16 companies that have mostly been providing support in the implementation of the work placement program and subsequently recruited the trainees who had completed the Heavy Machinery Driving Course.

The event also saw the graduates sign work contracts with various heavy machinery companies, namely MOC Sdn Bhd, Brunei Transportation Company Sdn Bhd, Readymix Concrete (B) Sdn Bhd, PSK Logistics Sdn Bhd, PHLS Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Razali Amat Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Pengangkutan Tiga Muara Sdn Bhd, Wee Siang (B) Sdn Bhd, Teamone Environmental Technologies and Zainal Daud Sdn Bhd.

One of the graduates, Mohammad Shafiee Samsudin, received the Award for Talented Individual Trainee for his achievement during the fourth Heavy Machinery Driving Course. Deputy General Manager of Megamas Training Company Sdn Bhd Hj Mahmud Hj Idris called on the graduates to improve the quality of their work, adapt a positive and proactive mindset and continuously improve their work ethic for their own progress.

The Brunei Times