MAI hopes budget 2018 to focus on 4 pillars of auto sector

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) hopes the 2018 Budget will give focus to four pillars of the automotive sector, namely providing more jobs for locals, stimulating new businesses, funding for industry players and empowering existing businesses.
Its chief executive officer, Datuk Madani Sahari said the strengthening of local workforce was important as the automotive sector now has relatively large numbers of foreign workers of about 120,000.
"Since 2013, MAI had embarked on the Industrial Profession Certificate programme to replace foreign workers with locals in the automotive sector.
"As at July this year, we have succeeded in replacing some 21,000 foreign workers. Thus, MAI hopes we would be given an allocation to continue to train locals to replace foreign workers," he said after signing a strategic partnership agreement between MAI and MIDF here today.
Madani said MAI also hoped that the Budget 2018 would also open new business opportunities in line with Industry 4.0 development.
"We hope the government can provide funding to industry players to improve the skills of technical and non-technical staff," he said, adding that he hoped the budget would not only empower existing businesses in the sector, but also workshops and vendors. — Bernama