Nothing wrong with nasi lemak grads, says Khairy

SERI KEMBANGAN: There is nothing wrong with graduates who are Uber or Grab drivers or sell nasi lemak, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.
While it may be due to dire circumstances for some, there may be others who prefer to be entrepreneurs as it gives them more time flexibility, he added.
"We cannot always encourage our youth to be wage earners and work from 9-5 daily. We must also encourage youth to become entrepreneurs. Nothing wrong if graduates are Grab or Uber drivers or selling nasi lemak.
"No doubt there are some who are forced by circumstances to do this, but some might prefer it. They may prefer to have the time flexibility where they sell nasi lemak in the morning and drive Grab or Uber later in the day," he said at the Rapid Bus Academy in Cheras Selatan.
Khairy added that such entrepreneurial endeavours should not be discouraged.
He was commenting on Pakatan Harapan (PH) prime ministerial candidate and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed's comment that graduates in the country are unable to secure employment and are resorting to selling nasi lemak and becoming Grab or Uber drivers.
He said this is a testament that the government is unable to create job opportunities for the graduates.
Khairy pointed out that Dr Mahathir has written a book for small businesses, "Panduan Peniaga Kecil" (Guide for small businesses) in 1982.
"He wrote this book to guide the small business but now he is condemning those who go into business," he quipped.
The minister also called for Public Skill Training Institutes (Institusi Latihan Kemahiran Awam (ILKA) ) to be more flexible and offer more short term courses for youth.
"Sometimes there is a demand from the industries for a particular skill. So through a short course we can equip them with the needed skill and they can join the workforce once they complete the course. So instead of always focusing on long courses like certificates, diplomas or degrees, short courses would be able to address the gaps within the industries," he said.