NORTHPORT COLLABORATES WITH THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO PROMOTE PORT INDUSTRY’S SKILLED WORKFORCE

PUTRAJAYA, 5 March 2024 – Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (“Northport”), a member of MMC Group, continued its commitment to promoting human capital development by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the Department of Skills Development (“DSD”) of Ministry of Human Resources. The MoU documents were signed by Northport’s Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof and the Director General of Skills Development, Ts. Zuleah Darsong. The signing of the MoU signified a crucial step for both parties to collaboratively develop a skilled workforce in the field of port management and operations.

During the MoU document exchange ceremony held at the Palm Garden Hotel, IOI Putrajaya on 5 March 2024, Northport was represented by its General Manager of Human Capital Division, Norzalinda Mohamed while DSD was represented by Ts. Zuleah Darsong. The exchange of the MoU documents between Northport and DSD was witnessed by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Human Resources, Dato’ Sri Khairul Dzaimee Daud.

This comprehensive agreement encompasses various collaborative areas, including the sharing of expertise, knowledge, services and consultancy in port industry management and operations. The agreement also includes the implementation and promotion of the Malaysian Skills Certificate (“SKM”).

“As an industry practitioner, Northport is highly committed to actively facilitating Government-led programs and initiatives in developing skilled workers while at the same time, promoting a culture of continuous learning within the organization. Through this partnership with DSD, Northport aims to explore opportunities for further collaboration, particularly in the areas of port management and operations,” said Dato’ Azman.

“With 123 years of experience in managing the port in Port Klang and earning various recognitions since its inception, Northport brings a wealth of expertise to the forefront of this collaboration. This strategic partnership signifies a commitment between both parties to nation-building, as the port and logistics industry is crucial for Malaysia. Our dedication to promoting skilled workers in port management and operations through this collaboration aligns with our vision and mission to build a sustainable foundation, fostering a knowledgeable, competitive and world-class skilled workforce for the country,” said Ts. Zuleah Darsong.

DSD, an agency under the Ministry of Human Resources, plays an important role in advancing national skills training. This includes developing the National Occupational Skills Standard (“NOSS”), implementing SKM, training skills instructors and promoting collaborations for skills training initiatives.

Northport has maintained a longstanding collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and DSD since 2014, during which SKM accreditation has been granted to 997 Northport employees. This partnership has been instrumental in improving industry standards and empowering the skills and capabilities of Northport staff to meet the demands of the port sector.

Northport had previously demonstrated its commitment in developing a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce in the ports and logistics industry through strategic collaborations with local higher learning and training institutions. In October 2023, Northport signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement (“SCA”) with Kolej WIT Sdn Bhd, a collaboration aimed at facilitating industrial training, with a specific focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (“TVET”).

Northport further broadened its commitment to collaborative education and professional development by signing MoUs with the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (“MUST”) and CLLB Sdn Bhd in October and December 2023, respectively. These agreements aimed to conduct, facilitate and accommodate programs related to industrial training, human resource development, academic learning and certifications, with a particular focus on the fields of ports and logistics.

In January 2024, Northport further continued its commitment to empower development of TVET by signing an MoU with Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (“UTeM”), the first technical university in Malaysia. The primary objective of the MoU was to facilitate the sharing of experiences, expertise, technical proficiency, resources and knowledge between both parties.