PROVISION OF TVET INFRASTRUCTURE DEPENDS ON VARIOUS FACTORS - AHMAD ZAHID

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- The proposal that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions that have been operating for more than 10 years be provided with permanent buildings in strategic areas must be seen within the framework of a comprehensive national development plan, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the provision of TVET infrastructure does not depend solely on the period of operation, but rather takes into account enrollment projections, location suitability, facility needs and state and federal development priorities in line with the country's physical and financial planning.

"Even the provision of dormitory facilities for students is subject to the suitability of the programme, the number of trainees and the training implementation model adopted.

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"The industry-based training approach, apprenticeship and work-based learning allow trainees to follow training more flexibly without being completely dependent on permanent dormitory facilities," he said at the winding-up session of the debate on the King’s Royal Address for the ministry at Dewan Negara today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the National TVET Council, was responding to the proposal by Senator Datuk Anna Bell @ Suzieana Perian and Senator Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman that TVET centres that have been operating for more than 10 years in rural areas be housed in permanent buildings and that dormitory facilities can be established.

In other developments, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), also touched on disaster preparedness through the agency and informed that the government is committed to strengthening disaster governance through the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2030 which targets increasing risk management strategies at the state level and districts by 2030.

In addition, touching on rural infrastructure, he informed that 203 road development projects in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak with a total cost of RM19.39 billion have been approved for 2026.

He said that to improve the safety and comfort of villagers, KKDW is now switching to the use of solar lights in phases, with Selangor recording the highest installation of Village Street Lights (LJK) to date, which is 25,613 units.

"Under the LJK KKDW Programme, the lights will be installed by the State Electricity Authority (PBEN), namely Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) on existing electricity poles owned by TNB with installation and maintenance carried out by TNB but the cost will be borne through the annual allocation of KKDW," he said.

Ahmad Zahid also gave assurances on the fate of the second generation of Felda, where the government is implementing a comprehensive review of the Land (Group Settlement Areas) Act 1960 [Act 530] to allow the construction of more than one house unit on one original planned land site.

"Currently, the decision in the Land Act only allows one house to be built on the site of the original house of the settlers.

"So in search of a comprehensive solution, the Prime Minister's Department together with Felda is currently implementing a comprehensive review of the Group Settlement Areas Act 1960 (GSA 1960) for the purpose of improving and strengthening existing provisions," he said in response to Senator Dr Jufitri Joha's request to resolve the problem of construction of second-generation houses by Felda.

-- BERNAMA