LAE in Malaysia

I recently graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering from a top university in the US. Reality hit me when I realized how difficult it is to pursue an aviation career as an engineer in Malaysia. I didn’t know much about CAAM licenses before pursuing this degree, and now I kind of regret it. It seems like pursuing a diploma in Malaysia is more worthwhile in terms of time and money than getting a degree from a really tough university.

I found out that I can be exempted from the theoretical exams for Part 66 since I’ve already taken the relevant classes in college, but getting the required OJT hours is the hard part. I saw that Admal Aviation College offers a program where I can earn OJT hours, but I still have to complete six months of practical and theoretical training — unpaid.

Another option is joining MABES as a Trainee Aircraft Maintenance Technician, though I still don’t fully understand how it works. I'm not eligible for the other program, Trainee Licensed Aircraft Engineer, even though my main goal is to become an engineer, because I don’t yet possess a CAAM License CAT B1.1 or B2.

Any thoughts or advice?