FMM President YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Soh Thian Lai paid a courtesy call on YB Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister of Higher Education on February 7, 2023 and discussed strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to strengthen career opportunities of graduates with industries.

FMM took the opportunity amongst others to highlight the following:

• Importance of moving towards an industry-led TVET ecosystem and having a single champion agency to drive the TVET direction and efficiency with the continuity of Majlis TVET Negara (MTVET) and Government-Industry TVET Coordination Body (GITC)
• Enhancement of TVET Apprenticeship Programmes including supporting industries via TVET Apprenticeship Fund from the collection of foreign worker levy and double tax deductions for industry participation in employer-led / demand-driven TVET training models such as teaching factories / co-ownership models, etc
• Cultivating our human capital both the existing and the new workforce and nurturing their capabilities/skills and capacities for industries and the nation to capitalise on the multiple transformations taking place within the space of digital technology, green manufacturing including focus on sustainability and ESG compliance
• Driving productivity growth through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skilled workers including increasing science and technology admissions at tertiary level
• Increasing employability of graduates with greater industry linkages, practical immersion and early exposure to STEM and TVET

Also present were FMM Vice Presidents, YBhg Dato’ Nathan K Suppiah, YBhg Dato’ Andrew Goh, YBhg Dato’ Gan Tack Kong, Mr Jacob Lee; FMM Council Member YBhg Dato’ J Palaniappan; and FMM Chief Executive Officer, YBhg Datuk Dr Yeoh Oon Tean.