68% of workers only have SPM, may slip into B40, says Umno MP

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno MP Ahmad Maslan said 68% of Malaysian workers possess the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or lesser qualifications and raised concerns over their growing numbers in the B40 group.

He said parliamentary replies from the human resources ministry last week stated that there are 14.2 million workers in the country.

“The ministry says only 32% of our workforce have STPM, certificate, diploma or degrees. The rest – 9.5 million or 68% – have the SPM or other qualifications,” Ahmad (BN-Pontian) told the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said the government could explain that there were those in the group undergoing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) but, even then, the target for 2021 was at 5.3%.

Ahmad said almost 500,000 Malaysians sit for the SPM every year.

“Only 150,000 of them pursue studies after SPM. The remainder have only an SPM qualification and are likely to slip into the B40 group,” he said.

He suggested that more STPM colleges be opened, and entrepreneurship programmes for students from Form 1 introduced to expose them to business skills.

Ahmad said the government would rather give fuel subsidies, which would total RM15 billion next year.

“What sort of policy is this? Subsidies should be for the poor and not those with more cars,” he said.

He urged Putrajaya to end the “lopsided subsidies” and use the funds to open more colleges for SPM leavers. — Free Malaysia Today