KUCHING: Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) has been urged to implement internship programmes for potential apprentices to be absorbed as future employees.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg urged contractors to train their interns to be professionals while adopting and learning the latest technology to help companies run efficiently.
“That is why I suggest that the companies have an internship system in place. They can take in students either from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, or i-CATS University College.
“Students can start with their internship programmes first, and if they are good and highly knowledgeable, you can employ them.
“But if they are not performing well, then there is no need. After all, you are the ‘tauke’ (boss), you can decide whether to take them in or not,” he said during the DUBS Kuching branch charity dinner at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on yesterday (Nov 27).
Abang Johari also said when there are more professionals hired in a construction company, it can prevent incidents such as ‘sick projects’.
“What the government is facing now is that many projects have been tendered but then become ‘sick’.
“There is one project in Limbang that saw three different contractors. And there is another in Baram with four different contractors changed to deliver the project.
“In the end, these become sick projects, and when it happens, the government is also ‘sakit’ (facing difficulty) and eventually people lose trust and confidence in the government,” he said.
Hence, internship trainings to mould future contractors are essential so they can be professionally trained and ensure projects are delivered smoothly.
“I have also requested the State Financial Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar to revamp the tendering procedure to contractors including the tender documentations and vendors.
“If main contractors cannot deliver the job, we will go directly to them and payment can be made directly to the vendors,” he suggested.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari also announced a sum of RM100,000 for DUBS Kuching branch to purchase construction equipment and machines.
“By procuring heavy machinery, you can rent them out to contractors who do not have one to assist them in delivering the projects awarded to them,” he said.
Earlier, DUBS president Datuk Abang Helmi Ikhwan said the organisation has made some progress on the earlier proposal by Abang Johari to rent construction machinery to its members.
“The premier has asked us to look into this matter because many of our contractors face problems in getting heavy machinery. Without the equipment, it would be difficult to compete and in the end, they have to approach non-Bumiputera contractors to borrow from them.
“So, with funds like this, we can procure heavy machinery, and smaller contractors from DUBS may participate and be more independent,” he said.
