Pasir Gudang ILP trainers Syed Mohd Shukri Syed Mohd Idris (right) and Mohd Shukeri Shamsuddin (left) showing the proper technique of welding to Muhammad Afiq Akmal (second from left), Muhammad Amirul Adha Mohd Nasir and Muhammad Haziq Najmi at Pasir Gudang ILP in Johor. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
PASIR GUDANG: Muhammad Amirul Adha Mohd Nasir’s life has changed for the better after obtaining 6G Welding certification under the PETRONAS Vocational Institution Sponsorship and Training Assistance (VISTA) programme at the Pasir Gudang Industrial Training Institute (ILP) in Johor.
The 32-year-old from Kedah said he had never expected to become a welder, as he had graduated with a human resource management degree.
“After graduating in 2016, I started work at a human resource department of a small company. But despite having a steady job, I felt unfulfilled and was unhappy.
“I have always been interested in welding, but I do not have any relevant skills. This led me to take up short courses at various vocational training institutes to learn the ropes in becoming a welder,” he added.
As he was unable to find welding jobs despite already having several certifications, Amirul Adha decided to continue to upskill himself to increase his job prospects.
“I discovered a three-month course under the PETRONAS VISTA programme offered at Pasir Gudang ILP in July last year through social media and decided to apply.
“Completing the course was a game-changer for me, as I was immediately offered a well-paying job.
“This new position allowed me to earn significantly more than my previous job, a level of income that would have taken me years to achieve otherwise. It has opened up a promising future for my family, and for that, I am truly grateful,” he added.
Amirul Adha said he is now planning to relocate his wife and one-year-old daughter from Pahang to Pasir Gudang, where they will have a new beginning as a family.
Opening more doors
Another Pasir Gudang ILP alumni, Muhammad Afiq Akmal, 21, from Pengerang, shared that completing the course has allowed him to get the Welder Qualification Test (WQT) certification.
Despite previous challenges, he persevered and succeeded on his fourth attempt.
“Failure is never the end for me but just another obstacle before reaching my target.
“With the WQT, I have secured a rewarding position with a shipbuilding and heavy engineering industries company.
“My next target is to take up another course to further improve my skills and become a welding inspector, which can help open more doors for me in the oil and gas industry,” said the second youngest of five siblings.
Muhammad Haziq Najmi’s interest in welding, on the other hand, developed during secondary school after watching a video clip on welders on social media.
“After completing my secondary school, I registered with Kangar ILP before transferring to Pasir Gudang ILP for the welding course, under the PETRONAS VISTA programme.
“I can proudly say that I am now a professional welder, which is a dream come true,” enthused the 23-year-old from Selangor.
The need for precision
Shukeri said that the short training course offered by the training institute has recorded a steady increase in registration.Pasir Gudang ILP trainer Mohd Shukeri Shamsuddin, 44, said that the short training course offered by the training institute would consistently attract a high number of enrolments.“We conduct the course three times a year, and each time we open an intake, we see an average of 100 enrolments or more.
However, the process is selective. “It is not that easy because the applicants will have to undergo a preliminary assessment to evaluate their basic welding skills. From the pool of applicants, we will only take about 20 of them.
The course spans approximately 13 weeks – roughly three months, during which trainees will undergo intensive training at Pasir Gudang ILP.
“This course helps trainees upgrade their skills, but before they complete it, they must pass a final test to earn their Welder Qualification Test (WQT) certification,” he explained.
“The WQT is highly important for a welder as it allows them to meet the demands of industries including abroad especially in the oil and gas sector for highly skilled workers,” he added.
The Pasir Gudang ILP and PETRONAS have been collaborating under the VISTA programme since 2009.
Trainer Syed Mohd Shukri Syed Mohd Idris said, “For the past 15 years, we have trained a total of 837 welders through the PETRONAS VISTA programme, enabling locals to upgrade their skills and become a highly-skilled workforce,” he said.
Syed Mohd Shukri highlighted that the majority of the trainees come from the B40 family income group.
The training module implemented in the course syllabus meet industry’s demands, according to Syed Mohd Shukri.“They understand that acquiring industry-required skills can transform their futures, which is why we receive many applications for the short course,” he added.
Almost all trainees who complete the course at Pasir Gudang ILP receive immediate job offers from companies and major industry players.
“The training modules are designed to meet industry demands, and having the support for these trainees from PETRONAS – a world-renowned player in the energy industry – boosts the confidence of future employers,” Syed Mohd Shukri explained.
He proudly noted that the employability rate for Pasir Gudang ILP is 100%.
This remarkable achievement earned the institute the ‘Best Institution in Graduate Employability’ award from PETRONAS in 2015.
“We maintain contact with our alumni, many of whom have thrived in their careers as welders.
“Most are now working with major companies in countries like Dubai, India, Singapore, and even in the US, which makes us very proud,” he added.
Producing a competent workforce
PETRONAS VISTA programme, implemented since 1992, has benefited 35 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions nationwide with an investment exceeding RM90mil.
Through the programme, selected institutions receive assistance in machine equipment upgrading and maintenance, training materials and consumables, trainers upskilling, and curriculum development to ensure technical courses meet industry requirements and produce a competent workforce.
To date, the programme has produced over 12,000 graduates.
Currently, there are 21 TVET institutions under the PETRONAS VISTA programme: eight in Sabah, six in Sarawak, and seven across Terengganu, Melaka and Johor where PETRONAS operates.
In Johor, four institutions namely Pasir Gudang ILP, Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara Bandar Penawar, Akademi Binaan Malaysia, and Politeknik Tun Syed Nasir have produced over 2,000 graduates with a 100% employment rate.
The programme supports oil and gas-related courses, including 6G welding, pipe fitting, scaffolding, chargeman, as well as Diploma in Process, Petrochemical and Instrumentation.
