SEPANG: Malaysia is eyeing more than 10 gold medals at the 12th Asean Skills Competition (ASC) 2018 from Aug 26 to Sept 4 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 48 participants will be lead by the Human Resources' Chef de Mission Nidzam Kamarulzaman.

"We expect to win more than 10 gold medals. The medals should come in the categories such as hairdressing, cooking, wielding and automotive skills. This is where our strength lies," he said in a news conference at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) before their departure today.

He said the team will compete in 24 categories which include cabinet making, fashion technology, industrial automation and electric installation.

Human Resources minister M. Kulasegaran expressed admiration for the team's efforts. He said the team's participation is important as 60% of 1.5 million new jobs created through Malaysia's 11th Plan will be from the Technical Education and Vocational Training (TVET) sector.

Witnessing the event was Deputy Human Resources minister Datuk Mahfuz Omar who will also accompany the team.

The biennial competition, introduced in 1995, is hosted alternately by Asean member countries, to develop and improve the skills of youth and workers at international level.

Malaysian participants were chosen among the winners of the Malaysian Skills Competition, comprising students of various skills training institutions, including polytechnics and community colleges.

In the 2017 edition of the ASC, Nidzam said the Malaysian contingent won in 22 of the 24 skill-based areas. Malaysia has participated in 11 ASC and hosted three.