Latest news with #SyedHussainSyedHusman
New Straits Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia Employers Federation supports 13MP, calls for industry collaboration
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Employers Federation (MEF) has welcomed the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), calling it a bold and inclusive framework for the nation's next development chapter. MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the five-year plan's success hinges on cooperation among government agencies, Parliament, the private sector, and civil society to ensure policies deliver people-centric outcomes. He urged all Malaysians and key stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue and support the plan's implementation as it undergoes parliamentary review. "As Malaysia positions itself for high-income and innovation-driven growth by 2030, the 13MP's integrated approach to human capital transformation is both timely and essential," he said in a statement today. "MEF supports the government's continued commitment to workforce upskilling, digital capabilities, and labour market reforms. However, MEF also urges practical alignment with industry needs and increased private sector engagement to ensure policy effectiveness." The 13MP, covering 2026 to 2030, is a key policy document with a budget of RM611 billion. It sets progressive and realistic objectives to spur economic growth, raise household incomes, and ensure inclusive development across all sectors. Syed Hussain proposed more direct fiscal incentives for companies, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and those undergoing digital transformation, that invest in upskilling talent in high-demand sectors. He also recommended co-investment models where the government matches employer contributions for critical skill areas. While MEF commends the centralisation of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) under a unified framework, Syed Hussain said that industry-led governance and performance monitoring are crucial to prevent mismatches. "Employers should be involved in curriculum design, certification, and placement guarantees. Many employers are willing to train but face constraints such as time, costs, productivity trade-offs, and regulatory complexity," he said. He added that successful implementation relies on meaningful employer participation, flexibility in delivery mechanisms, and coherent policies across ministries and agencies.
New Straits Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
13MP talent push crucial for future economy: MEF
KUALA LUMPUR: The 13th Malaysia Plan's (13MP) integrated approach to human capital transformation is both timely and essential as Malaysia gears towards becoming a high-income, innovation-driven economy, said Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF). MEF welcomed the plan's comprehensive approach to workforce transformation, particularly in the areas of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), lifelong learning and labour market reforms. Its president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the plan reflects a critical shift towards employer-led training and upskilling, essential for meeting the demands of digitalisation and industrial transformation. However, he said practical alignment with industry needs and greater private sector involvement are crucial to ensuring effective policy implementation. He added that more direct fiscal incentives are needed for companies that upskill in-demand talent, particularly small and medium enterprises and those undergoing digital transformation. "MEF recommends co-investment models where government matches employer contributions for critical skill areas. "While MEF commends the centralisation of TVET under a unified framework, industry-led governance and performance monitoring are vital to prevent mismatches," he said. Syed Hussani added that employers should be involved in curriculum design, certification and placement guarantees. "Many employers are willing to train but face constraints such as time, costs, productivity trade-offs and regulatory complexity," he said. Syed Hussain called for a training flexi-hours policy and the recognition of on-the-job training as formal learning pathways under HRD schemes. While efforts to enhance graduate employability are commendable, he said a significant gap still exists between academic qualifications and real-world job readiness. "MEF proposes deeper integration between universities and industry through mandatory work-integrated learning programmes," he added. While the association supports the 13MP's goal of modernising labour data systems, Syed Hussain stressed the need for real-time access to industry-specific employment trends and skills requirements, developed in close collaboration with employers. He said the five-year national development blueprint presents an ambitious and necessary recalibration of Malaysia's human capital development strategy. "MEF believes that successful implementation depends heavily on meaningful employer engagement, flexibility in delivery mechanisms and policy coherence across ministries and agencies."
The Star
31-07-2025
- Business
- 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.
Malay Mail
31-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
MEF backs 13MP workforce strategy, calls for more incentives to boost skills
KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has called for stronger alignment between government policies and industry needs under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), urging Putrajaya to offer direct incentives for companies that invest in workforce upskilling. Its president, Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman, said while MEF supports the inclusive vision of the five-year plan, more meaningful engagement with employers is needed to ensure that training initiatives reflect real-world demands. 'The 13MP stands as a bold and inclusive blueprint for Malaysia's next chapter in development,' he said. 'Its success relies on ongoing collaboration among governmental agencies, Parliament, the private sector, and civil society to align policy with people-centred outcomes..' Tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Dewan Rakyat earlier today, the 13MP outlines Malaysia's development priorities from 2026 to 2030 with a focus on governance, economic diversification and inclusive growth. The government estimates RM611 billion will be needed to implement the plan, with RM430 billion coming from public expenditure, RM120 billion from GLCs and GLICs, and RM61 billion through public-private partnerships. Syed Hussain welcomed the 13MP's emphasis on human capital development but said companies, especially SMEs, continue to face obstacles when adopting training programmes, including high costs, regulatory burdens and limited flexibility. He proposed that the government consider co-investment models in which public funds match employer contributions for high-demand skills, particularly in digital, green and innovation-driven sectors. MEF also recommended recognising on-the-job training as a formal learning pathway and called for the introduction of a 'Training Flexi-Hours' policy to ease employer participation. The federation expressed strong support for the centralisation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) under a unified national framework, but warned that industry-led governance is vital to prevent skills mismatches. Syed Hussain also said employers must be involved in curriculum design, certification processes and job placements to ensure that training outcomes match industry expectations. He added that the proposed reforms to the Human Resources Development (HRD) fund must prioritise outcomes-based learning and maximise uptake among companies through simplified access and clearer incentives. MEF also urged the government to modernise labour data systems with real-time access to sector-specific skills trends, developed jointly with industry players to improve forecasting and job matching. The group praised plans to boost youth employability and address the needs of NEETs — those not in education, employment or training — but warned of a persistent disconnect between academic qualifications and workplace readiness. MEF said it remains committed to supporting the government in achieving the 13MP's targets, including average GDP growth of 4.5 to 5.5 per cent and sustained progress towards becoming a high-income, innovation-driven economy by 2030.
The Star
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Business groups say swift ceasefire will prevent disruptions
Soldiers react as they receive flowers from members of a royalist group in support of the military at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, on the day military negotiations are set, after the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a ceasefire on Monday effective midnight, in a bid to bring an end to their deadliest conflict in more than a decade after five days of fierce fighting, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 29, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa PETALING JAYA: The ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia is much needed to restore peace and regional stability at a time when employers are grappling with a complex global business environment, say business groups. The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) described the ceasefire as a positive development in light of slow global trade, ongoing geopolitical tensions and disruptions linked to US tariff rates. 'On behalf of Malaysian employers, including those with regional operations, supply chains and investment footprints in both Thailand and Cambodia, we express our deep appreciation for the Prime Minister's bold diplomatic intervention and rapid resolution of the escalating tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border. 'Employers across the region, particularly those in labour-intensive manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics and cross-border retail, now have the opportunity to continue operations without disruption while maintaining the safety of their workforce and facilities. 'MEF commends the commitment of both Thailand and Cambodia's peaceful conflict resolution through Asean platforms,' said its president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman. He added that since Malaysia maintains substantial trade and investment ties with both Thailand and Cambodia, any instability would pose real threats to business continuity, supply chains and regional confidence. Syed Hussain said the swift de-escalation will ease concerns raised by many members with direct operations or investment interests in both nations and help prevent further commercial losses, supply chain disruptions and reputational risks that can emerge from prolonged conflicts. Thailand is one of Malaysia's top trading partners in Asean with bilateral trade exceeding RM100bil annually. Cambodia, while smaller in volume, is a growing trade partner with Malaysia's total investments crossing RM12bil in recent years. The Malaysia-Cambodia Business Association (MCBA) also commended Malaysia's leadership role in brokering the ceasefire. MCBA founding president Datuk Seri Ricky Yaw praised Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his proactive diplomacy, especially in bringing the leaders of both countries together for urgent dialogue. 'This ceasefire is a critical step towards restoring peace and regional stability. We extend our highest respect to Malaysia for the leadership demonstrated in facilitating this breakthrough. 'We also pay high tribute to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai for their political foresight and courage in making responsible decisions that balance national interest with regional peace,' Yaw said.
