MCA to set up tech college

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA will set up a technical college to provide more skilled workers for the country, party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said.

He said the party had appointed a committee, led by former humanresource minister Tan Sri Fong Chan Onn, to study the details.

“They have had three months to come up with a working paper,” said Dr Chua, adding that it should be ready by the end of the month.

MCA, he said, was one party that would walk the talk, adding that it was better to take the initiative to do something instead of blaming the Government all the time.

“It is wrong to assume in Malaysia that the Government has to do everything as the private sector is playing an increasingly important role,” he told reporters during the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) convocation yesterday at Wisma MCA.

On Malaysia's goal to become a high-income nation, he said:

“We feel that technical education is very important. If half of the workers needed are skilled workers, I think we are not producing it fast enough.”

In his speech earlier, he noted that as a political party, MCA had done more in the training of talent compared to any other party in the country.

Jubilant faces: Graduates throwing their mortar boards in the air after Utar’s 14th convocation ceremony at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. — DARRAN TAN / The Star

“Have you seen any other party which has done better than MCA in this aspect?

“DAP has done nothing except to criticise, notwithstanding that they already have the chance to form government.”

Dr Chua also elaborated that talent was the key driver in the Malaysian economy.

Utar and Tunku Abdul Rahman College, both initiated by MCA, have produced more than 185,000 graduates since they were set up in 2002 and 1969 respectively.

Dr Chua also rubbished speculation that he would be contesting in Batu Pahat in the upcoming general election, a seat held by Umno's Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

“That source must only come from the Prime Minister. Until then, I don't respond to speculation.

“Whether I contest or not is not important. What is important is that the party moves forward to face the general election,” he said.

(Sources - http://thestar.com.my)