PUTRAJAYA: As Malaysia strives to become the Asean Logistics Hub, it has to focus on the main challenges that can be put into two categories.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the first category required continuous investment into infrastructure such as port upgrades and expansion, road networks, advanced information technology (IT) system, all of which needed strong commitment and collaboration between the government and the private sector.
“Second is on human capital. We need to train more skilled workers and professionals, local Malaysians - who are the backbone of our logistics industry,” he said after chairing the National Logistics Task Force NLTF today.
The NLTF together with the Human Resources Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit had conducted the Study of Manpower in the Malaysian Logistics Sub Sector 2017.
The study, he added, had projected that the Malaysian logistics industry required an increase of 41 per cent workers from 393,000 in 2016 to 554,000 workers by 2022.
“Jobs will be created in the fast growing e-commerce sector especially at the Digital Free Trade Zone and the e-fulfilment centres.
“For high skilled workers, there will be an increase of 40 per cent from 60,800 workers to 85,000 workers in 2022. Similarly, the demand for semi skilled workers also increases by 40 per cent from 180,000 to 252,000.
“We need workers with expertise in the field of supply chain network design, integrated warehouse management, information technology application and sophisticated crane operations,” he said.
For the supply side, Loke said, there was a need to foster closer collaboration between training providers, logistics associations and industry players to develop industry relevant training programmes.
“For the logistics players, more efforts are needed to attract new workers into the logistics industry.”
He said the NLTF would also execute five recommendations and 16 initiatives to enhance the capabilities of the logistics service providers.
The recommendations are:
* Align and integrate the human capital;
* Strengthen collaboration between industry stakeholders;
* Refine education programmes and TVET curricula;
* Increase upskilling and reskilling initiatives; and,
* Promote the perception and rebranding of the industry.
Loke also listed some of the initiatives which include developing the Malaysia Logistics Centre of Excellence; strengthen Malaysia skills certification body; enhance accreditation and certification programme; inventory of logistics courses and logistics occupation awareness programme.
“These initiatives aim at increasing the supply of skill workers and the attractiveness of the logistics industry.”
He also said a total of 60 initiatives under the Logistics and Trade Facilitation Masterplan were initiated and implemented by various ministries, agencies and the private sector for this year and beyond.
“So far 14 initiatives were completed and the rest is undergoing implementation.”