HRD Corp appoints Dr Syed Alwi as new chief executive
In a statement, HRD Corp said Syed Alwi, 51, brings over 27 years of leadership experience in financial services, banking technology, and management consultancy.
"He has consistently driven organisational growth, scaled financial institutions and introduced innovative, future-focused solutions that align financial strategy with long-term business objectives to deliver sustainable impact," it said.
Syed Alwi previously served as Managing Director of BNP Paribas Malaysia Berhad (Islamic Banking), President and Chief Executive Officer of Agrobank, and Group Chief Executive Officer of UMPSA Holdings Sdn Bhd.
He has also held senior leadership roles at prominent global and regional institutions including Standard Chartered Saadiq, The Islamic Bank of Asia (Singapore), HL Bank (Singapore), and MRANTI Corporation.
Syed Alwi holds a PhD in Finance from Universiti Malaya, and both a Bachelor's Degree in Accountancy (Hons), for which he received the Rector's Award, and a first-class MBA in Islamic Finance from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). He also completed the Oxford Fintech Programme at the Said Business School, University of Oxford.
"Dr Syed Alwi has played a key role in strengthening operational performance and creating value for stakeholders, earning recognition for his contributions to corporate transformation," said HRD Corp.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
Employers group praise 13MP as a bold blueprint for human capital transformation
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.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Landmark deal boosts Malaysia's semiconductor hub dream
Historic partnership: Zafrul, Syed Alwi, Anwar, Sim and Jaffri at the MoU Exchange Ceremony. PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's ambition to emerge as a global semiconductor hub received a boost as Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (Crest) and the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch the Engineering Talent for Semiconductor Industry (ETSI) Programme. Held in conjunction with the Asean Semiconductor Summit 2025 and marking the first anniversary of the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), the MOU was signed by Crest chief executive officer Jaffri Ibrahim and HRD Corp chief executive officer Dr Syed Alwi Mohamed Sultan. The exchange was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim; Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim. ETSI aims to upskill and reskill 15,000 tertiary students, graduates, workers and researchers to meet the growing demand of Malaysia's semiconductor ecosystem. Led by Crest, the programme aligns with the NSS and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 by focusing on talent development across the semiconductor value chain. 'This is not just a partnership, but a national strategy in motion. 'By developing globally competitive engineers, Malaysia and Asean will be better positioned to capitalise on a sector projected to be worth US$2 trillion (RM8.46 trillion) by 2030,' said Tengku Zafrul. The ETSI programme forms part of a larger effort under the NSS, which targets training 60,000 semiconductor engineers by 2030. It also supports Malaysia's leadership in the Asean Framework for Integrated Semiconductor Supply Chain (AFISS), an initiative to empower SMEs and the workforce with the skills, tools and financing needed to succeed in the high-value semiconductor sector. Sim said talent remains the driving force behind economic transformation. 'Through HRD Corp, we are implementing industry-driven, outcome-oriented training models. The race in semiconductors will be defined by the calibre of talent we nurture, not just infrastructure or investment,' he said. Sim noted that HRD Corp's training schemes, including claimable courses and employer-led initiatives, reduce the financial burden on companies. 'It's about building a sustainable talent pipeline where employers play a central role,' he added. The ETSI programme adopts a multi-pronged approach by enhancing employability through early technical exposure and curriculum alignment, boosting workforce skills and strengthening postgraduate R&D capacity. It is designed to create a resilient, innovation-ready workforce with technical depth and global outlook. 'Talent is the heartbeat of Malaysia's semiconductor ambition. Through ETSI and our Semiconductor Centre of Excellence, we are equipping engineers and researchers with cutting-edge tools and future-critical skills. 'We're building not just talent, but innovators and changemakers,' said Jaffri. The Semiconductor CoE, spearheaded by Crest, offers advanced training infrastructure to facilitate knowledge transfer and technology development, further cementing Malaysia's position in the global semiconductor value chain. Echoing the sentiment, Syed Alwi described the partnership as a strategic leap forward. 'Every technological advancement must be met with a talent leap. With initiatives like ETSI and the Industrial Skills Framework for Semiconductors, we are preparing Malaysia's workforce to lead in design, innovation and IP creation,' he said. ETSI exemplifies a whole-of- nation approach by uniting government, industry, academia and training institutions to build long-term competitiveness in semiconductors, deep tech and advanced manufacturing. As global demand surges, the Crest–HRD Corp collaboration is poised to help Malaysia deliver not only a future-ready workforce, but also homegrown innovation that will shape the next chapter of the global semiconductor industry.
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Borneo Post
Layar education group backs Sagah's emphasis on STEM for rural communities
Paul also pointed out that SELC 2025 is HRD Corp claimable, making it an accessible professional development opportunity for both educators and employers. KUCHING (July 27): Layar Education Development Committee (LEDC) chairman Paul Langgang has voiced his full support for the call to action from State Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, on the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for the rural communities. 'There is no doubt that Sarawak's rural communities must embrace Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in order to be fully prepared for the state's future development,' said Paul. 'Equally important is the ability to address the language of STEM, which is why we have initiated the Sarawak English Literacy Conference (SELC) 2025, scheduled to take place from Sept 17 to 19, 2025, at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) in Kuching.' Paul also pointed out that SELC 2025 is HRD Corp claimable, making it an accessible professional development opportunity for both educators and employers. He made this remarks during a recent SELC 2025 Steering Committee meeting. The conference is jointly organised by LEDC and Place Borneo Sdn Bhd, with the collaboration of educational partners including Jolly Learning and STEM Learning UK. Sagah had made the call at the STEM Catalysts Raspberry Pi 2025 programme held at SMK Long Lama, Baram, recently, asserting that it was no longer acceptable to say that the 3Rs—reading, writing, and arithmetic—are enough for rural children. 'Our future depends on our ability to master science, technology, and digital knowledge. You too can excel in coding and STEM regardless of your location,' he said. SELC 2025 will convene renowned international education experts to support Sarawak's mission of strengthening English literacy and STEM education in schools. Among the featured speakers is Gilbert Jolly, Managing Director of Jolly Learning, the UK-based publisher behind the globally acclaimed Jolly Phonics programme. He has been instrumental in expanding the reach of phonics-based learning tools in classrooms worldwide and will share insights on their global impact and the future of phonics in literacy education. Also speaking at the event is Sarah Dagnell, a professional development leader with STEM Learning UK. With over a decade of experience in primary science education, Sarah specialises in helping schools and teachers enhance STEM outcomes through curriculum design, training, and evidence-based teaching strategies. SELC 2025 aims to equip educators with innovative teaching strategies, aligned with Sarawak's Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy, to build a future-ready workforce. The conference is expected to draw participants from across Malaysia and the region. It is supported by the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD), the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, the Sarawak State Education Department, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak Branch, whose contributions reflect a strong and collective commitment to advancing education in Sarawak. Registration is now open, with standard rates set at RM890.92 for Malaysian delegates and USD300 for international participants. Outstation teachers may also apply for a special subsidy extended by MEITD through LEDC and Place Borneo, subject to terms and conditions for eligibility. Eligible participants may also tap into the Geran Tahunan Khas offered by the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development. For more information and registration details, visit or contact Mr Emierson at +6082 555 189 or [email protected]. lead Paul Langgang rural communities SELC STEM
