FLUNKING his SPM examinations in 2004 did not stop Mohamad Hisham Mohd Iqbal from believing that life is full of opportunities and that all we have to do is seize them at the right time.
His belief came at the perfect time a year later when he joined the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) for a basic machining course.
“I failed my SPM exams terribly, without even getting credit in any of the subjects.
“This also meant that there was no way I was getting into a university or college to pursue my tertiary education.
“I refused to give up and thought it was time I took life seriously after spending most of my schooling days playing and not focusing on my studies.
“That was when I came across PSDC. I enrolled myself in the basic machining course despite not knowing anything about the industry and the manufacturing sector.
“But I was really excited about the machine’s language, and that was one of the reasons I was intrigued by what was being offered at PSDC.
“I went on to complete the CNC machining course (levels one, two and three) and became the youngest assistant trainer at PSDC.
“To become a trainer, we need to be certified by the Department of Skills Development Malaysia. So, I am a certified trainer now too,” Hisham told Buletin Mutiara during an exclusive interview at the PSDC in Bayan Lepas on March 17.
While the world is evolving at a rapid pace in this digital-driven era, Hisham claims that the engineering sector is undoubtedly facing a shortage of recruits due to the many opportunities that other industries are offering.
“These days, we are all spoilt for choice. For example, people have started using social media as a tool to make money, and with some basic knowledge, the platform is easily accessible and user-friendly to all.
“Also, from my understanding, many people don’t want to get their hands dirty these days,” Hisham added.
Hisham, 31, currently works as a training manager in one of the companies in Batu Kawan.
Another interviewee, Foong Mun Sun, 31, who had completed her precision machining course at PSDC, said the centre is an ideal place to prepare graduates to be industry-ready and to be relevant to the needs of the industry.
“I joined PSDC in 2010 and in the last ten years, I have to say that many things have changed. Even the operations that were carried out manually now have different systems.
“When I joined the precision machining course, I realised that the future of the industry lies in the hands of skilled workers.
“After completing the course here, I became a certified trainer. Then, after 10 years, I decided to leave PSDC last year for a new opportunity.
“I wanted to gain more exposure and insights into the industry. Now, I am a senior engineer at a multinational company in Bayan Lepas.
“PSDC provided a multiracial environment, and we were all like a family,” Foong recalled.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Syafiq Azizan, 27, said that PSDC is the perfect place for those who wish to flourish in this highly competitive era, especially in the manufacturing sector, where skilled workers are viewed as an important asset for the growth of the business.
Azizan currently works as a technician in a company based in Bayan Lepas.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Law Suun Ting