‘Technical talents in high demand’
More young people should enrol in vocational courses as the demand for technical talents in both local and foreign markets is increasing daily, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The momentum of the development of the sector is good and the prospects are bright for students enrolled in vocational education, he added.

“Vocational education is an important pillar of the country’s economic and technological development,” he said at the VTAR Institute thanksgiving dinner and Chinese New Year celebration on Feb 26 in KL.

Thanking the VTAR staff for their support and assistance, and the mentors for their care, guidance and dedication to the students, he said the institute would continue to grow and provide better opportunities for the people.

VTAR Institute chief executive officer Tan Cheng Liang, in her welcome speech, called on the public to shed their prejudice of vocational education.

“In the past, everyone always thought that vocational education was for students with poor academic performance, but this is not the case.

“Take our digitalisation (manufacturing automation) programme, for example. VTAR is the first vocational institute in the country to offer such a programme and many of the students who enrolled in the programme have excellent academic results,” she said, adding that the income of vocational education graduates working in the country and in Singapore is as competitive as, if not higher than, that of university graduates.

Tan said there were only 34 students when she joined the institute. With assistance from MCA and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), VTAR relocated to the varsity’s Kuala Lumpur campus.

The number of VTAR students has since grown by more than 15 times and its current building is bursting at the seams. The need for expansion, she said, is urgent.

She said a Taiwan culinary charity dinner organised by the Asian Chinese Traders Association together with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and VTAR will be held on July 5 in KL to raise RM1mil for the varsity’s hospital and the institute.

“I hope everyone will support the event,” she said in a press release.

The guests who attended the thanksgiving dinner were VTAR board of director chairman Soon Mon Huay, VTAR directors Lim Kit Siong and Dr Tan Yean Chin, MCA vice president Datuk Lawrence Low, Wanita MCA national deputy chairperson Tee Hooi Ling, MCA Youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung, TARC Education Foundation board of trustees member Datuk Seri Yew Teong Look, TAR UMT president Prof Dr Lee Sze Wei, UTAR president Prof Datuk Dr Ewe Hong Tat, The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) president Chang Yew Cheong, Malaysian Plumbing Association (MPAM) president David Tan Siew Kheng, Malaysia Chinese Traders Association president Kang Beng Hooi, Gamuda Engineering executive director Lim Hui Yan, Council of SMJK Principals Malaysia chairman Lim Peck Poh, and corporate partner representatives.

For details on the charity dinner, call VTAR’s Ms Low/Foo at 03-4149 8211 or 010-225 7831/2.
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More young people should enrol in vocational courses as the demand for technical talents in both local and foreign markets is increasing daily, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.