In a move to uplift the socio-economic well-being and ensure a dignified retirement for Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) veterans, Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad or TalentCorp, mandated to strengthen Malaysia’s talent ecosystem has announced a collaboration with the Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (PERHEBAT), who is responsible as a second career enabler for MAF veterans.
The initiative, Veteran MyWIRA will focus on industry-driven skilling and employment within the private sector.
It will be piloted in partnership with Micron Memory Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Micron), a leader in Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem and will leverage the unique skill sets of the MAF veterans to fill job vacancies in the market.
The Veteran MyWIRA initiative marks the first time that the Ministry of Human Resources through its agency, TalentCorp is collaborating with PERHEBAT under the Ministry of Defence.
The launch event, held in Penang saw a gathering of more than 650 guests, comprising PERHEBAT MAF trainees, MAF veterans, and industry leaders.
Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim Chee Keong, said that the Veteran MyWIRA initiative is consistent with the principles of decent work within the framework of the MADANI economy.
Additionally, it aligns with the three fundamental pillars he has established for the ministry, namely, strengthening the welfare of workers, improving skills, and increasing workforce productivity.
“Our MAF veterans possess valuable expertise with specific, immediately applicable skills required in sectors such as E&E and aeronautics,” he remarked during the launch event.
Sim added, “Their structured lifestyles in the military have instilled in them a high degree of discipline, professionalism, and commitment – qualities highly sought after by employers. Through Veteran MyWIRA, the MAF veterans will get to upgrade their skills in line with job market demands and transition into the private sector.
“This initiative empowers them to make substantial contributions to the nation’s economy, improve their employability, and elevate their overall quality of life. At its core, this approach embodies the principle of ensuring that ‘no one gets left behind,'” the minister emphasised.
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Adly Zahari highlighted on the importance of cross-ministerial initiatives which is reflected in the Veteran MyWIRA initiative.
“Veteran MyWIRA can make a meaningful impact on the lives of retired servicemen and women, empowering them to navigate the challenges of retirement with dignity and resilience,” he said.
According to administrative data from PERHEBAT, an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 members of the ATM retire each year.
As of May 2023, the Department of MAF Veteran Affairs (JHEV) reports a total of 42,745 ATM veterans who are 50 years old or younger.
Thomas Mathew, TalentCorp’s Group CEO said that the Veteran MyWIRA leverages TalentCorp’s existing initiatives including the mynext TVET and Future Skills Talent Council in partnership with industry stakeholders.
“This structured approach involves profiling and upskilling our ATM veterans, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to the workforce and providing diversity to the private sector workforce,” he said.
The Veteran MyWIRA pilot programme with Micron will provide on-the-job training for ATM veterans beginning March 2024, with 25 to 50 selected candidates being offered employment with Micron.
Amarjit Sandhu, Micron Technology’s Corporate Vice President, Assembly & Test NAND Operations said, “We are excited to partner with TalentCorp on a comeback programme for our veterans to help enrich our local communities.”
“Micron is creating an equal opportunity for everyone to be part of its workforce, and by leveraging the unique strengths, views, and experiences of our veterans, we create opportunities for growth, innovation, and success,” he added.
Concurrently, TalentCorp has partnered with state training centres, including Selangor Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC), Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), Johor Skills Development Centre, and Kedah Industrial Skills & Management Development Centre (KISMEC).
Through this, their industry members will participate in this pilot offering 500 job openings initially.
This initiative holds the potential for significant expansion, where there is an industry demand of up to 50,000 semi-skilled and skilled hires in the Electrical and Electronic (E&E) sector alone over the next three years.
