A total of 6,000 youths are set to be trained as therapists in a "Malaysian Style Spa" concept under the Empower Raub programme by 2020, said Tourism minister Dr Ng Yen Yen today.  

She said the training programme would be implemented under the National Key Economic Area, Tourism which placed special emphasis on human resource development.   

"I have taken this special initiative to create awareness among youths on a new skills based career which would be enhanced by this training.

"Awareness from parents and teachers is also important to encourage youths into skills based careers which have the potential to promote local tourism products," she told reporters after launching the Empower Raub programme here today.

Also present at the event was the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) chief executive officer Jebasingam Issace John.

Job opportunities

Ng said students who failed in their exams need not be unemployed just because they could not further their studies.

"I find that many students who failed their exams have skills so I urge them to not give up but do research and initiate themselves into a skills career," she added.    

The Empower Raub programme is a federal government initiative to develop human resource through the ECERDC to ensure a fair distribution of income for the region's inhabitants.    

Ng, who is Raub member of parliament, said so far 900 residents have benefited from the programme of which 400 were students in Academic Skills Training and the rest youths in Entrepreneurship Skills Training.  

Prior to the event, Ng participated in a 15km Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Sunday Bike Ride@Raub with 400 people, flagged off from Taman Tasik Raub.   

- Bernama