A PENANG Career and Postgraduate Expo 2019, with special emphasis on career opportunities for differently-able people (OKU), drew quite a number of job seekers at the SP Arena on June 29 and 30.
Seven of the 60 booths set up by various companies had job openings for OKU participants.
The seven booths were from the Central Seberang Perai Caring Society Office, Penang Public Library Corporation, Tesco Extra Seberang Jaya, MYSIS Trading, Takaful Ikhlas Bhd, IRC Employement Agency Sdn Bhd and Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd.
The OKU Career expo, which was organised by the state government, SME Seberang Perai and Modal Insan MMK Development Committee, started from 11am until 6pm on both days.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy said the career expo was an opportunity for our differently-abled people to start applying for work and achieving their life goals like any normal people.
“OKU friends are entitled to enjoy equal opportunities as others in all aspects of life, including job opportunities.
“Apart from that, the government has allocated at least one percent of staff recruitment in the Public Service Department for differently-abled people and is also implementing the Disabled Action Plan 2016-2022 to increase the participation of OKUs in the open job market.
“People need to eradicate the negative views towards the OKUs. In my opinion, OKUs in Malaysia are versatile and are now beginning to make a difference in various fields,” Ramasamy said in his speech during the expo at SP Arena on June 30.
Ramasamy added that the state government was always committed to providing a complete, comprehensive public amenities and friendly environment for them.
Also were present were Bagan Dalam assemblyman M. Satees, Seberang Perai Municipal Council councillors P. David Marshel and K. Jason Raj, SME Association Seberang Perai president Francis Wong, secretary Jacqueline Cheng and treasurer Leong Yook Kheong.
Story by K. Thaarshenii
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis