SWCorp celebrates achievement of 206 SKM course grads

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 10-- The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) today celebrated the achievements of 206 employees of its concessionaires who completed the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Levels 2 and 3 at a convocation ceremony.

The employees had completed a course related to solid waste collection, public cleaning, treatment, and disposal, which was handled by Solid Waste Training Centre (SWTC), a training arm under the SWCorp Industry Lead Body (ILB).

During the event, held for the first time while complying with standard operating procedures, saw the graduates in black robes excitedly receiving their certificates from Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib.

Ismail, in his speech, said the SWCorp initiatives to implement skills certification related to solid waste management and public cleansing will increase productivity and ensure services provided based on set standards and procedures, as well as attract more locals to join the service sectors.

“With competent and recognised employees, better quality services with integrity to meet the expectations of the people can be provided as well as to ensure sustainable solid waste management towards a clean and beautiful environment.

 According to Ismail, about 40 per cent of the total general workers in the solid waste management and public cleaning sectors in the country currently consists of foreigners who manage garbage collection, street sweeping, grass cutting, drain and toilet cleaning.

 “The community has the perception and often views these jobs with the 3D characteristics (dangerous, dirty and difficult),” he said.

SWTC was appointed by the Human Resource Ministry on Jan 31, 2019, as the training operator to obtain the SKM, providing skills training to employees of concession and private companies comprising E-Idaman Sdn Bhd, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and SWM Environment Sdn Bhd.

 There are seven skills training programmes provided by SWTC, which include three main modules, namely, solid waste management, public cleaning as well as solid waste treatment, and disposal.

Meanwhile, one of the graduates, Johari Harun, 59, when met by reporters, said he was overjoyed for the opportunity to wear a graduation robe before he retires after working in the sector for almost 17 years.

"I am proud with this recognition. This certification can improve existing skills in the right way," said Johari, who is in charge of manning the beach cleaning machine. He will retire in August next year.

  Rahmat Ramli, 26, an employee from E-Idaman, said he is proud of his job, which he described as important in ensuring the cleanliness of surrounding areas.

 “It has been seven years since I started working as a general worker, and I pick up food and garden waste. Although it is considered a normal job, without us, we would be probably be living with garbage all around us,” he said.

Also present were Skills Development Department director-general Datuk Zaihan Shukri, SWCorp chairman Datuk Rizalman Mokhtar and SWCorp Chief Executive Officer Ismail Mokhtar.

-- BERNAMA