SEPANG: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hopes that China will increase the quota for Malaysian students in the Malaysia-China Youth TVET Training (MYCTT) programme.
Zahid, who chairs Malaysia's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, said the positive relationship between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese President Xi Jinping could lead to even more student placements in future.
He added that the success of his recent visit to China had also resulted in additional placements for Malaysian students.
"During my official visit for the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations (recently), I met with 220 representatives from TVET institutions in China, and as a result, we successfully secured 3,125 study opportunities for our students to gain knowledge and skills there.
"I am grateful that after visiting China, they added another 2,000 placements for Malaysia, bringing the total to 5,125.
"And of course, I am confident, with the good relationship between the leaders as well as Premier Li Qiang, I believe in my heart and mind that next year, they will further increase (the quota) to allow more of our students to undergo TVET," he said.
He said this in a speech during the sending-off ceremony for a batch of MCYTT participants at KLIA today.
The MCYTT programme started on July 2 last year to send Malaysian Youths for TVET talent development in China.
Participants would undergo short-, medium- and long-term training in various fields, including electric vehicle technology, solar energy, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
To date, 1,776 local youths have undergone training in China through TVET institutions and industries nationwide.
Zahid gave his assurance that the ticket costs of the students, which were initially borne by parents, would be reimbursed.
The decision was made to ease the financial burden on the students' families, who previously had to pay for their flight tickets.
"I was informed that those of you going to study in China this time had to rely on your parents to buy your flight tickets.
"God-willing, we will reimburse you soon. Those who previously had to pay for their own tickets, we will also reimburse.
"The funds are already available, but we're just waiting for the procedures," he said.