He added that the importance of self-management and being equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform duties effectively cannot be overstated.

“This requires knowledge and the skills to perform our duties effectively. Only then will we be able to continually compete in our jobs, within our organisations and, ultimately, our country,” he said at the convocation ceremony for the award of Malaysian skills certificates to Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) staff here today.

Fadillah added that the world judges a nation’s level of achievement by the knowledge and skills of its workers.

IWK chairman Ahmad Johnie Zawawi meanwhile said the company is committed to enhancing the skills and competencies of its operational and technical staff.

He said improving work quality and efficiency while ensuring cost savings aligns with customer and industry demands.

Johnie also encouraged employees to view themselves as the backbone of the company’s services, urging them to commit to high quality work and continuously challenge themselves to enhance their competencies in line with the company’s business goals.

As the country’s largest sewage service provider, IWK introduced the Malaysian skills certification programme to its operational staff in 2019.

Johnie said the initiative aligns with the government’s aim to transform technical education and training to meet new challenges that demand high skills and competencies, thereby enhancing organisational efficiency.

“The programme complies with the requirements and regulations of the national water services commission, which has established competency as the primary requirement for operating services in this industry,” he added.