{
  "id": 15682992,
  "title": "2 dekad bina insan yang membina Malaysia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/2-dekad-bina-insan-yang-membina-malaysia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T01:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/10/20/2-dekad-bina-insan-yang-membina-malaysia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's progress is often measured by key indicators such as GDP growth, foreign direct investment, and global competitiveness. In June 2026, the country climbed eight places to rank 15th in the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report, strengthening its position in the global arena. However, the primary indicators do not always reflect the reality of everyday life for Malaysian citizens. While the economy continues to grow and attract investment, many struggle to find quality jobs, increase income, and elevate their economic level. One manifestation of this challenge is the underutilization of graduates, as a degree or vocational qualification does not guarantee suitable employment or higher earnings, leading many young Malaysians to struggle to secure opportunities that match their qualifications and aspirations. Under the framework of the Smart Economy, raising a floor means not only bringing more people into the job market but ensuring these jobs offer better pay, stronger guarantees, and clearer career paths. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently stated that even if productivity grows and companies generate billions in profit, if workers still earn only RM1,700 monthly, we have not yet raised the floor. The 2027 budget then proposes a RM2,000 minimum wage starting in June 2027, setting RM2,500 as the starting wage for graduates and part-time skilled work. However, wage-related steps must be adjusted with pathways that help young people secure and maintain quality jobs. For Malaysia's wealth, Khazanah's role extends beyond merely generating financial returns. It operates on two fronts: strengthening strategic sectors through Malaysia-led companies increasing economic integration, alongside building capabilities, entrepreneurship, and skills that elevate the population's living standards. \"Khazanah's unique mandate allows us to deliver commercial returns while advancing Malaysia's development agenda. Our goal is intertwined: strong investment enables us to re-invest capital in strategic sectors, skill development, and entrepreneurship, ultimately creating long-term economic value and broader opportunities for the Malaysian people,\" says Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional Berhad. Developing the workforce encompasses various career stages for Malaysian citizens. Khazanah's talent-building programs help new graduates build a strong professional foundation through structured training and on-the-job experience, while placement programs provide professional exposure with creative Malaysians gaining access to specialized learning, international perspectives, and professional networks beneficial for individual sectors. On a larger scale, K-Youth tackles the gap in income among Malaysian youth based on skills, experience, and industry-required knowledge demanded by employers. Knowledge-sharing and skill-development programs work closely with industry partners to provide sector-specific training, hands-on work experience, and career pathways in high-growth areas such as semiconductors, aviation, and digital technology. Through Accelerate, 85% of participants secured jobs within three months of completing the program in 2025, while 81% remained employed in 2026. Three-quarters of trainees come from the B40 segment, and half of them now earn between RM3,000 to RM4,000 monthly. Since 2023, over 35,000 young Malaysians have benefited from Khazanah's initiatives, building on the success of the National Madani Talent initiative. However, talent development must be aligned with companies striving to create quality jobs. Entrepreneurs and mid-sized companies need more than just capital to grow, innovate, and compete; they need skills, networks, and expertise to scale their businesses. Through the Impact Fund, Khazanah combines capital with capability-building to strengthen businesses, build Malaysian capability, and generate job opportunities in strategic sectors. Designed initiatives like the Mid-Tier Innovation Program and Elevate in partnership with the Securities Commission Malaysia have supported 54 companies in strengthening their growth capabilities. The 2027 budget continues this effort by expanding the Ciptawan Fund—a fund for mid-sized Malaysian and Bumiputera companies—to RM250 million through a partnership with Teraju. Strengthening skills for the best outcomes requires companies with high valuations to be willing to take them on. SkyeChip, a local semiconductor manufacturer, demonstrates how business development and skills can mutually strengthen. Supported by the Impact Fund, the company has built a team of over 300 engineers, investing heavily in research and development (R&D) and employing K-Youth trainees to work—ultimately proving that a stronger company can create better opportunities, while skill refinement continues to drive growth. This effort is supported by a long-term skill-building corridor.",
  "summary": "Dari universiti hingga ke makmal cip berteknologi tinggi, Khazanah terus menaikkan lantai ekonomi negara melalui peluang ke peringkat tertinggi.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "2 dekad bina insan yang membina Malaysia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/2-dekad-bina-insan-yang-membina-malaysia-15688564",
        "published": "2026-10-20T01:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}