Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid TVET No Longer A Second Choice, Increasingly Preferred By Youth

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 -- Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is no longer a second choice but a preferred option among the younger generation, driven by rising enrolment and high employability rates among graduates. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said as such the government remains committed to strengthening the TVET agenda as a key driver of human capital development and future economic growth. "I hope that the government's efforts through the organisation of National TVET Day will change public perception, showing that it is no longer a second choice but a top career path capable of producing a future generation of professionals, technology creators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders," he said in a Facebook post today. He added that the nation’s economic future will be driven by a highly skilled workforce, new technologies, and a culture of innovation, which is why empowering TVET remains a priority. Ahmad Zahid said that to strengthen the national vocational education ecosystem, the government has declared June 2 as National TVET Day each year to raise public awareness of the field's importance in building a more progressive, competitive, and skills-based future. He said the National TVET Day 2026 celebration, scheduled to take place at Dataran Putrajaya from June 5 to 7, will bring together educational institutions, industry players, entrepreneurs, youth, and the general public. A variety of programmes are lined up, including technology and innovation exhibitions, a TVET Career Carnival, industry seminars, robotics and Drone Soccer challenges, a Future Skills Showcase, a TVET entrepreneurship platform, and interactive activities for families. Ahmad Zahid said the celebration will also reinforce strategic cooperation between TVET institutions and industry, ensuring talents meet current job-market demands rooted in technology, innovation, and skills. He said that 1,398 TVET institutions nationwide are now a core part of the nation's development. Ahmad Zahid, the National TVET Council chairman, said 229,121 students, or 56.86 per cent of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers and equivalents, chose TVET studies, while total enrolment reached 459,558 last year. "What is even prouder is that the country's TVET graduate employability rate rose to 95.9 per cent in 2025 compared to 95.6 per cent the previous year," he said. He said this achievement proves that TVET is not only increasingly accepted by the younger generation but has also successfully produced the highly skilled workforce truly needed by the country's industries and economy. "Let us come together to make National TVET Day 2026 a success," he added. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is no longer a second choice but a preferred option among the younger generation, driven by rising enrolment and high employability rates among graduates. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said as such the government remains committed to strengthening the […]

i2Cool’s Electricity-Free Cooling Film Applied at Dorsett Putrajaya to Improve Comfort and Energy Efficiency for Lake-View Dining Space

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- i2Cool has completed the installation of its i2Film Electricity-free Cooling Film at Dorsett Putrajaya, helping the hotel address solar heat gain and improve guest comfort in its glass-fronted lake-view dining area. Located in Putrajaya, Malaysia, where the annual average temperature is around 28°C and hot, humid weather persists throughout the year, hotels built beside scenic waterfronts often face a dual challenge: maintaining open views while managing the heat load brought by strong sunlight. At Dorsett Putrajaya, Citra Rasa all-day dining restaurant is one of the hotel's signature spaces. Overlooking Putrajaya Lake, the restaurant is known for its lake-view dining experience and local Malaysian flavours, including Nasi Lemak and Nasi Goreng. However, the large floor-to-ceiling glass façade also created a long-standing comfort issue, especially for tables close to the windows. According to feedback from hotel staff, window-side tables were often left empty during busy weekend brunch hours, as guests would ask whether those seats were too hot. The issue was not simply a matter of air-conditioning capacity. Under prolonged sunlight, the glass itself became a continuous heat source, transferring heat into the indoor space. The hotel's engineering team had been aware of the issue for nearly two years. The key technical question was whether the heat-insulating film should be installed on the interior or exterior side of the glass. While interior application is shielded from weather, site evaluations revealed significant drawbacks, including structural instability of the existing trusses for worker access and the high risk of disrupting operations within the restaurant. After rounds of technical discussion and on-site comparison testing, i2Cool provided the hotel with a detailed technical assessment showing that exterior installation offered stronger advantages in heat dissipation and thermal insulation for this project. By installing the film on the exterior side, solar radiation could be reflected before acting on the glass, helping block heat at the source and maintain a lower glass substrate temperature. The hotel ultimately selected i2Film Electricity-free Cooling Film EFC-Blue 70e and adopted exterior-side installation. The project covered a total area of 421.6 square metres and was completed on 9 March 2026, ahead of Malaysia's hottest period of the year. Following installation, on-site monitoring showed a significant improvement in thermal and lighting performance: Solar irradiance decreased from 230.9 W/m² to 73.5 W/m², representing a 68.16% reduction. Illuminance was adjusted from 5,714 Lux to 4,830 Lux, reducing excessive heat while maintaining a bright indoor dining environment. With up to 94% mid-infrared emissivity, i2Film helps release heat absorbed by the glass surface without additional electricity consumption. The 421.6 m² installation is estimated to help the hotel save approximately 137,915.3 kWh of air-conditioning energy per year. Beyond the data, the change was also reflected in guest experience. According to follow-up feedback, guests who previously felt a burning sensation when seated near the windows now described the space as bright but no longer uncomfortably hot. Another business guest also noted that it was the first time he had finished a meal there without feeling sweaty on his back. According to the hotel's front office manager, staff no longer need to explain that the window-side tables may feel hot. During weekend brunch hours, some guests now actively ask to be seated by the windows. For a hotel that receives hundreds of diners every day, the shift from "avoided seats" to "preferred seats" is a clear validation of the improvement. For hotel operations, the project also delivers practical energy-saving value. The 421.6 m² installation is estimated to help save approximately 137,915.3 kWh of air-conditioning energy per year. However, according to an internal review by the hotel management, the most valuable outcome was not only the number on the electricity bill, but the fact that the hotel no longer needs to struggle with the same long-standing issue. The Dorsett Putrajaya project provides a practical reference for glass façade buildings in tropical regions seeking to improve thermal insulation and reduce cooling demand. From the technical discussion two years ago to the final decision to adopt exterior-side installation, the project shows how a practical material-level cooling solution can help balance scenic views, indoor comfort and energy efficiency. For i2Cool, the 421.6 m² application at Dorsett Putrajaya is one example among more than 500 projects across nearly 30 countries and regions. From Dubai Mall to lakeside restaurants in Putrajaya, from data centres to star-rated hotels, electricity-free cooling technology is turning "light transmission without excessive heat" from a technical concept into a tangible cooling experience. -- Source: i2Cool Limited

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — i2Cool has completed the installation of its i2Film Electricity-free Cooling Film at Dorsett Putrajaya, helping the hotel address solar heat gain and improve guest comfort in its glass-fronted lake-view dining area. Located in Putrajaya, Malaysia, where the annual average temperature is around 28°C and hot, humid weather persists […]