TAMPIN – Since employment opportunities are scarce in Tampin district, Mohamad Kamil Adam Wahabi, 30, chose to become a farmer in 2017, cultivating the 2.2ha of padi field belonging to his family in Kg Londah, Gemas.
Despite holding a bachelor’s in arts and social sciences degree, Kamil decided to go into farming to support his ailing parents and after realising that only 10 out of 50 padi farmers in the area are young people.
Kamil, who earns about RM8,000 per season, believes that if the authorities are serious about expanding the agricultural sector in the district, the majority of local youth would choose to be self-employed, which would help strengthen the local economy.
“Generally, the young people in Tampin study up to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and diploma levels. Those with degrees migrate to urban areas to seek employment because they are not able to get jobs with a decent salary here,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nuramirul Hidayat Nazry, 28, a third-generation resident of Felda Pasir Besar, said that after gaining two years of experience as a finance executive in Port Klang, she returned to start a business here.
“Job opportunities are limited and salaries are insufficient here, so I make use of the experience gained to venture into business, but those who have no experience are struggling to make a living,” said Nuramirul, who is in transportation and farming.
A local resident who wants to be known as Mohd Fauzi, 39, said the government must address the problem of unemployment immediately because most of the jobs available in the district are in the retail sector and are poorly paid.
“There are so few employment opportunities in Tampin and civil service jobs are limited. The usual jobs available are at small grocery stores, restaurants, and supermarkets.
“There are no other jobs with better pay, so how do you expect us young people to survive?” he asked.
He added that with small incomes, it was also difficult for young people to own houses as most houses in Tampin are priced between RM250,000 and RM300,000, compared with RM200,000 in Alor Gajah, Melaka.
Realising the dilemma faced by young people here, Barisan Nasional’s (BN) parliamentary candidate for Tampin, Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa said if elected, the problem of unemployment would be one of the areas he will focus on.
In order to boost the economic sector, the Gemencheh assemblyman said, the industrial sector needs to be expanded and other alternatives must be provided to produce more young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.
In the upcoming 15th general election, the Tampin parliamentary constituency will see a four-cornered fight between Isam, Abdul Halim Abu Bakar (Perikatan Nasional-PAS), Muhammad Faiz Fadzil (Pakatan Harapan-Amanah), and Zamani Ibrahim (Pejuang-Berjasa). – Bernama, November 13, 2022
