THE MRT Project Young Graduates Entrepreneurship Programme, aimed at developing a pool of Bumiputera entrepreneurs to grow in the construction industry, was officially launched on 2 September 2013.

The programme was conceived by Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) as part of its Bumiputera Agenda for the Klang Valley MRT Project and developed in collaboration with Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) and MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd, the Project Delivery Partner of the project.

“The programme will provide young graduates with the knowledge and know-how which they will use when they become contractors or subcontractors, whether in Malaysia or abroad,” MRT Corp Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Azhar Abdul Hamid said in his speech during the launch.

The graduates went through a one-year training stint with PUNB, which enabled them to gain the necessary skills to become successful entrepreneurs. The trainees are required to form companies which are registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). They will receive grants from PUNB to set up and run their respective companies.

Twenty graduates have been chosen to become participants of the programme. They will undergo training with MMC Gamuda from six months to one year. During the training, the candidates will be assessed. Once they pass the assessment, their companies will be awarded contracts for the construction of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line.