The Star, 6 November, 2006

ICT, biotech grads sought

By THOMAS TAN

MALACCA: All unemployed graduates in information communication technology (ICT) and biotechnology should join state agencies to develop these sectors in the state, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam. 

Mohd Ali said the state already had the necessary infrastructure and capital to carry out the projects but was short of workers in these fields. 

He promised the graduates a salary of RM1,200 per month and they could request for a salary increase after three months. 

However, Mohd Ali said the graduates must meet expectations and hit sales targets set by the employers from the first month of employment. 

Mohd Ali also urged bumiputra graduates to set higher career goals after graduating and not to hope for a job from the government. 

“They (the graduates) need to break away from the concept where they will only consider themselves employed if they work for the government. 

“Step forward and offer your service and we will offer you a job,” Mohd Ali told the graduates after opening the career fair themed “Tunas Kerjaya 2006” and its portal organised by Puteri Umno at the Malacca International Trade Centre (MITC) recently. 

Also present was Datuk Noraini Ahmad, Puteri Umno chief, who said that “Tunas Kerjaya,” an initiative by Puteri Umno, was aimed at helping the rising number of unemployed graduates. 

“Tunas Kerjaya acts as an intermediary between graduates and employers whereby we match the graduates' profile with the job requirements of the potential employers,” she said. 

“All they have to do is to register themselves and key in the relevant information into the e-tunaskerjaya portal system at www.tunaskerjaya.com,” Noraini added.