Kuala Lumpur: Taman Emas Malaysia (TEM) and the Malaysian Gold Academy were launched today as a gold industry ecosystem centre, offering skills training, business space, and jewellery marketing for both local and international markets.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, TEM chairman Zulkifli Idris stated that the initiative provides business space featuring 22 shop units, a traditional jewellery gallery, and a certified craft arts centre under the Malaysian Gold Academy. He highlighted that this academy is the first centre in Malaysia to receive recognition from the Skills Development Department under the COPTPA (TVET Accreditation) Standard, establishing its status as the country’s first jewellery craft education and tourism hub.

The launch of TEM aligns with the Kelantanese culture, which has a tradition of buying and storing gold as an investment, with demand reaching over 500 kilogrammes per month. The Sadaqah Wall, a feature of the launch, was established in collaboration with MBSB Bank and PayNet, allowing visitors to conveniently donate to charity.

Zulkifli elaborated that many skilled goldsmiths in Kelantan have passed down their craft for generations but lack formal certification. The academy offers these artisans an opportunity to gain recognition, enabling them to collaborate with larger companies or pursue opportunities abroad, including in Dubai.

The training programme is sponsored by MBSB Bank, which is the first financial institution to provide zakat assistance for underprivileged students enrolled in the academy’s short-term training programme. Gold entrepreneurs in Kelantan are encouraged to rent business space at TEM, with eight of the 22 business spaces already operational and generating monthly sales exceeding RM200,000.