GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia is aiming for its first gold award in this year’s World Skills Competition to be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in August.
The best, the country has ever achieved in a similar competition, was in the World Skills Competition in Leipzig, Germany, two years ago where it brought home nine Medallion of Excellence from the 14 skills it showcased.
This year will be Malaysia’s 12th time competing in the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event, dubbed the “Olympics”.
Human Resources Ministry Department of Skills Development director-general Dr Pang Chau Leong said it was not impossible to achieve as the nation had shown tremendous potential in the event in Germany in 2013.
“We are not far from being the best of the best. We proved ourselves by bringing back the nine Medallion of Excellence in Germany.
“This is testimony that we have achieved a certain world-class level. We just need to push ourselves harder.
“It may be tough but we would still like to bring back the first gold for Malaysia,” he said at the organising committee meeting for the 11th Asean Skills Competition, here, yesterday.
The 11th Asean Skills Competition, to be hosted by Malaysia next year, will see 28 skill areas to be competed, such as automobile technology, electronics, industrial automation, mobile robotics and web design.
Pang said by bringing back a gold, this would give confidence to society at large regarding the bright future in vocational and skills training.
“Although society’s stigma inn vocational and skills training is still there, they need to be made aware that this is the future high-paying job.
“Through the skills competition platform, we hope to change the society’s mindset and do away with being too academic-centric.”