Dewan Rakyat News In Brief: Nov 19

KPKM AIMS FOR 85 PCT EMPLOYABILITY RATE OF AGRICULTURAL TVET GRADUATES BY 2030

KUALA LUMPUR -- The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) aims to achieve an 85 per cent employability rate for graduates of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes in the agricultural sector by 2030.

Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said in 2023, a total of 982 graduates successfully completed their studies, recording an employability rate of 78.1 per cent, an increase of 5.8 per cent compared to 72.3 per cent in 2022.

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“To date, KPKM has produced 25,601 graduates in the agricultural field. The ministry is targeting an average annual growth of two per cent in the number of trainees from 2024 to 2030,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) about the target number of trainees and the employability rate of agricultural TVET graduates from 2024 to 2030 in achieving the main goals set in the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030.

-- BERNAMA

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UPGRADE WORKS ON KUALA PILAH RAKAN MUDA COMPLEX TO COMPLETE BY END-2026

KUALA LUMPUR -- The upgrading of the Kuala Pilah Rakan Muda Complex in Negeri Sembilan is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said the project is currently in its initial phase, which involves refining the scope, costs and tender documents.

The Public Works Department is set to open the tender process in February next year, he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Adnan Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah) on the ministry’s plan to upgrade sports buildings and facilities at Rakan Muda Complexes nationwide, particularly in Kuala Pilah, which has been outdated, to better meet the needs of users.

-- BERNAMA

DEFENCE MINISTRY CHANNELS RM85.19 MLN BSH TO 30,606 ATM VETERANS

KUALA LUMPUR -- The Defence Ministry has channelled RM85.19 million in cost of living aid (BSH) to 30,606 Armed Forces veterans, both pensioners and non pensioners, as of September this year.

Deputy Minister Adly Zahari said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced the extension of the RM300 monthly aid automatically to non-pensionable veterans aged 60 and above.

“We will also consider providing BSH to pensionable veterans who retired before Jan 1, 2013, if their income falls below the Poverty Line Income,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Khlir Mohd Nor (PN-Ketereh), who wanted to know why living aid is not provided to veterans who retired before Jan 1, 2013, as over 98 per cent of them live in poverty.

-- BERNAMA