Employers group praise 13MP as a bold blueprint for human capital transformation

The Star

2 days ago

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has welcomed the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) as a bold and inclusive blueprint for Malaysia's development from 2026 to 2030, particularly praising its focus on human capital transformation and inclusive growth.
MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the plan's emphasis on good governance, economic diversification, and people-centred outcomes was timely, given Malaysia's ambitions to become a high-income, innovation-driven nation.
"The 13MP is timely and essential as Malaysia prepares for high-income and innovation-led growth. It outlines a comprehensive strategy for workforce upskilling, digital capabilities, and labour market reforms," he said in a statement on Thursday (July 31).
With RM611bil allocated under the five-year plan—including RM430bil in government spending and RM181bil from GLCs, GLICs, and PPPs, Syed Hussain noted the plan's ambition and emphasised that execution must be grounded in industry realities.
He welcomed the strategic focus on human resource development, skills upgrading, and labour market reforms, but stressed that effective implementation must involve close collaboration with the private sector to ensure policies are aligned with real industry needs.
"The 13MP outlines a comprehensive strategy for upskilling the workforce, improving digital capabilities, and reforming labour systems. But it must go beyond policy documents. Implementation has to be practical, measurable, and driven by outcomes," he said.
Syed Hussain said MEF strongly supports the plan's direction on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), particularly the consolidation of providers under a central framework to reduce duplication and address skills mismatches.
He added that industry-led curriculum development, employer-institution partnerships, and apprenticeship-based learning must be core to the system. Employers, he said, should be directly involved in the design of training programmes, certification, and job placement.
Syed Hussain also welcomed the plan's focus on lifelong learning, micro-credentials, and modular training, especially in high-value, digital, and green sectors.
However, he urged that reskilling efforts for mid-career workers be incentivised through more accessible funding and flexibility, including training flexi-hours policies and recognition of on-the-job training as formal learning under HRD Corp schemes.
On labour market reforms, MEF supported efforts to modernise employment frameworks to reduce informal work, improve job mobility, and raise productivity.
"Digitalisation of labour market information systems was critical, but real-time, industry-specific data must be developed in partnership with employers to ensure accuracy and relevance."
Syed Hussain noted that youth and graduate employability remained a pressing concern.
"We need stronger industrial exposure and career coaching, as well as mandatory work-integrated learning programmes at the university level to better prepare graduates for the realities of the job market," he said.
While commending the government's commitment to training reforms, he said employers, especially SMEs, often face constraints such as cost, time, and regulatory complexity.
He proposed co-investment models where the government matches employer contributions for critical skills development, to improve uptake and outcomes.
On broader reform, he said HRD Corp subsidies and grants should be rationalised to prioritise impact and make it easier for companies to access funding.
He said the 13MP's success depends heavily on meaningful employer engagement, flexibility in delivery, and policy coherence across ministries and agencies.
'The 13MP is a necessary recalibration of Malaysia's human capital development strategy. As the voice of employers, MEF stands ready to collaborate with the government to ensure our workforce remains resilient, future-ready, and globally competitive," he said.
He added that the plan's inclusive vision would require strong coordination across all sectors.
"Its success hinges on ongoing collaboration between government, Parliament, the private sector, and civil society. We urge all stakeholders to join in constructive dialogue and complementary action as the 13MP moves through parliamentary debate and into implementation," he said.