YB M. Kula Segaran: TalentCorp To Focus On Professional And Graduate Talents

Former JPM agency now reports to Ministry of Human Resources

PETALING JAYA, 23 January 2019 – Minister of Human Resources YB M. Kula Segaran announced Talent Corporation Malaysia’s (TalentCorp) transfer to the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR), to focus on serving professional and graduate talents in Malaysia. This came after the Government’s efforts to align and restructure the departments and agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department after the 14th General Election.

The announcement was made today following a working visit by YB M. Kula Segaran to TalentCorp’s offices in Petaling Jaya, where he observed the day-to-day operations of the agency and its subsidiary, MYXpats Centre.

Unique Needs of Graduates and Professionals

YB Kula said that TalentCorp’s renewed purpose is to focus on initiatives and interventions to build Malaysia’s professional and graduate talent space. He defined professionals as highly competent talent, usually university and TVET institution graduates with very strong skillsets, which Malaysia needs to ensure its future prosperity.

“Malaysia is now facing numerous challenges. This includes ensuring that we meet the demand for an increased supply of skilled, future-ready talent that will be ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). However, Malaysia’s 2017 Department of Statistics data shows that only 28% of Malaysia’s workforce is high-skilled. This means that there’s an urgency to move quickly to create a pool of highly skilled professionals and graduates in Malaysia,” he said, adding that TalentCorp’s work is now more needed than ever.

TalentCorp’s Mission

TalentCorp was established back in 2011 under the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM), as a response to the Tenth Malaysia Plan which outlined our country’s critical need for highly skilled talent.

Under MOHR, TalentCorp will continue to attract and optimise Malaysian talent, facilitate global talent and build networks of top talent, in order to ensure the Malaysian labour force is well primed to tackle the challenges of 4IR and the Future of Work.

Among the agency’s revised focuses in the short term is to continue working with employers to implement work-life practices, and to recruit and retain women on career breaks through its Career Comeback Programme.

TalentCorp is in charge of managing the tax break for women returnees, which is in the final stages of gazetting at the Ministry of Finance. The tax break was announced last November by YB Kula.

Some of TalentCorp’s other key initiatives include:

• The Critical Occupations List, which aims to map out Malaysia’s talent landscape and industry requirements
• The Returning Expert Programme, which aims to help Malaysians return home from aboard
• The Structured Internship Programme, which gives students valuable industry exposure
• LIFE AT WORK Awards, an annual joint initiative by the Ministry of Human Resources and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, undertaken by TalentCorp, that recognises companies with progressive workplace practices

Embracing Global Talent

YB Kula also reminded the public that in order to progress quickly to meet the challenges of the Future of Work and continue to be relevant in the global economy, Malaysia must also embrace the best global talent, including top expatriates.

“I want to emphasise that expats are not taking jobs away from locals. MOHR policies will always put the needs of Malaysians first. But we must also welcome foreign investors and global expertise, even if the expertise comes from foreign talent. Furthermore, foreign talent will help us reinforce and complement our national talent pool,” he said.

Finally, YB Kula also commended TalentCorp’s MYXpats Centre in working together with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Immigration Department to ease the process for foreign talent and for the stringent processes that are in place.

To learn more about TalentCorp’s initiatives, including the MYXpats Centre, visit talentcorp.com.my