Nippon Paint (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Nippon Paint) and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Malaysia, according to a press statement.
Under the MoU, various training programmes will be implemented for 240 MARA students and 37 lecturers with the assistance of Nippon Paint experts and auto-refinishing skills relevant to the automotive coating industry will be the main focus. Up to 24 selected MARA training centres will be accredited as certified Nippon Paint training centres, ensuring that the education provided meets the high industry standards and fulfills current market needs.
The automotive sector is a cornerstone of Malaysia’s economy, producing a record-high volume of 799,731 vehicles in 2023. In view of the development, highly-skilled TVET workforce and quality automotive parts are crucial to the automotive industry.
As reported, the employability rate for TVET graduates in Malaysia has soared from 65.5% in 2010 to 94.0% in 2023, surpassing the rate for non-TVET graduates.
Held at the TVET Expo at MITC Melaka, the event was attended by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development.
Representing MARA, Ir. Mohd Nizam Mokhri, emphasised the importance of the partnership, “In line with the National TVET Policy 2030 aimed at producing skilled human capital imbued with national values, collaborations with industry leaders such as Nippon Paint are timely. These partnerships equip young Malaysians with industry-relevant skills and enable us to collaborate on advancing sectors like the automotive coating industry.” Ir. Mohd Nizam Mokhri is the Deputy Director of the External and International Relations Branch, Skills & Technical Division of MARA.
Meanwhile, General Manager of Nippon Paint, Mr. Tay Tze Tuck stated, “This MoU marks a significant milestone for Nippon Paint as we continue to invest in the future of Malaysia’s workforce and automotive industry. In the highly competitive automotive refinishing segment, Nippon Paint automotive refinish segment is always pushing the boundaries further to stay ahead, setting new industry standards with the finest coatings for every type of vehicle for our Malaysian car owners. This way, we also strive to provide the best with our specially developed coatings that offer aesthetic superiority but also provide enhanced protection and longevity for their vehicles.”
First established in 1967, Nippon Paint Malaysia is part of Japan’s Nippon Paint Group, which has a leadership presence spanning 22 geographical locations and has been built on a heritage of over 130 years dating back to 1881 in Japan.
