Need to boost human resources especially in SMEs to drive state towards developed status

KUCHING: With its abundance of resources and comprehensive corridor initiative, Sarawak is poised towards achieving the developed state status in line with the national Vision 2020.However, it needs to boost its human resources especially in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in driving towards that vision, said Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Bhd’s board chairperson Hasnah Ismail.

“Vision 2020 is not just a goal, it’s a power vision for our country where we don’t only go towards reaching that goal, what’s more important is what such goals can do for us. Sarawak, being the largest state in Malaysia, has the capacity towards that vision especially for SMEs. Sarawak constitutes about six per cent of total employers who are registered with PSMB throughout Malaysia. Over 70 per cent of them are SMEs. What has to be done is to boost human capital development of these SMEs through training and skillbuilding.”

Hasnah was present to officiate at the SMEs Expo 2009 held at a hotel here yesterday. The event, organised by PSMB, gathered over 20 exhibitors comprising training providers from both government agencies and private sectors. It also highlighted a list of speakers specialising on the subject of human resources development for SMEs particularly in Sarawak. Also attending the event was PSMB’s chief executive Tiew Hai San.

In her keynore address, Hasnah underlined the state’s corridor of renewable energy (SCORE) as the viable ground towards achieving sufficient human capital over the next 20 years.

“SCORE itself is a significant initiative. Through optimal utilization of natural energy resources to develop and attract energy-intensive industries to the region, SCORE can transform Sarawak to a manufacturing and eventually to a knowledgebased economy that will upgrade its people’s standard of living.

“It will create 1.6 million jobs over the next 20 years. As such, human capital development is vital to provide enough manpower to fill in these vacancies. Out of five growth nodes mentioned in SCORE, Mukah is singled out as being the knowledge-based training and development centre for producing professional and skilled manpower by 2030.

“Opportunities in SCORE will also address the issue of retaining the local manpower, as ample and attractive incentives are created to make them stay,” she added. Further, Hasnah related the story of Proreka (M) Sdn Bhd to demonstrate how a company can leverage its human resources capabilities in driving its profitability.

Proreka, which was incorporated as an SME in April 2000, started as a prototype builder and supplier of small plastic automotive parts before transforming itself into an automotive services hub specialising in the design of car components. In 2007, Proreka achieved total sales of RM50 million.

“Training for its workforce has been a determining factor in Proreka’s success, serving up to better equip staff in areas of fierce competition and increasing globalisation. This has enabled the company to become more competitive …able to move up the supply chain and bid for higher value projects. “The success of Proreka and other companies demonstrate the outcome of training and human development can have on any company’s performance. With all the investment being put into a company, without having any people to drive it would be pointless.

“As such, I urge all SMEs to emulate this commitment to human capital development and take advantage of what is offered at this expo, be it training and skill-upgrading programmes, job opportunities as well as networking among each other,” she said.

Meanwhile, a number of exhibitors concurred that the SMEs Expo serves as the platform for employers to train and retrain their workforce.

MRS Management Sdn Bhd’s director (corporate services and business development) Patrick Teo said participants can utilize the programmes offered to enhance their prospects and job marketability.

“At MRS Management, members will find it easier to enlist for the management training programmes since they have been preapproved by PSMB. Moreover, some of our key programmes like our ’10 Tools Management Programme’ are designed to enhance participants’ strong points and trigger their hidden potential, while identifying their weaknesses and addressing them accordingly,” he said.

Another exhibitor, Global-Pacific Degree (S) Sdn Bhd focuses on opportunities available in the local plantation sector.

“There are a lot of plantation companies here in Sarawak and they always rely on training assistance and expertise from outside, namely West Malaysia. At least through this expo, they will realise that we do have the expertise and capabilities to provide training to potential managers of these plantation companies,” said its business development and marketing manager James Sii.

For Yahos Sdn Bhd, the expo opens up a number of untapped potential in several under-recognised areas.

“Alongside mechatronics and automotive programmes, our school of skills also introduced the ‘home-management’ course that is endorsed by the Women’s Development Department. Our aim is to promote these offerings to members of the public, in line with state’s demand for capable workforce in various fields in the future,” said its course consultant Hazizi Mala.