Choh Yau Meng, Vice President of Human Resources Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
In an era where digital transformation is imperative, Malaysia stands at the cusp of a significant shift, redefining talent to meet the demands of the digital age. With the advent of technologies that disrupt traditional business models, the need for a workforce equipped with digital and emerging skills has never been more critical. Malaysia, in its quest to become ASEAN’s digital capital, is spearheading initiatives to cultivate a robust digital talent pool, essential for driving innovation and economic growth.
The Malaysian government’s strategic initiatives, such as Malaysia Digital (MD) and the National eCommerce Strategic Roadmap, underscore the nation’s commitment to digitalization. These programs aim to attract companies, talents, and investments while enabling Malaysian businesses to thrive in the global digital economy.
The focus on digital infrastructure, security, talent, ecosystem, and economy is creating a conducive environment for digital transformation across industries.
Case studies from Malaysia’s corporate landscape reveal a trend of adaptation and innovation. For instance, the e-commerce sector has seen exponential growth, with a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of RM68 billion, indicating strong consumer demand and potential in both B2C and B2B markets.
Digital finance, including e-wallet transactions, has surged, hitting RM 69 billion in 2022, with projections of further increase. This rapid embrace of digital payment solutions signifies a broader trend of digital adoption across the nation.
Moreover, the Global Business Services (GBS) sector in Malaysia has emerged as a driving force in the digital economy, accounting for a significant portion of digital investments and job creation. The presence of prestigious companies in the GBS industry highlights Malaysia’s attractiveness as a destination for digital investments and its role in the global digital economy.
The Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) plays a pivotal role in this transformation, with strategies like the Digital Investment Future5 (DIF5) Strategy, aiming to attract substantial investments in the digital economy by 2025. The creation of the Digital Ministry in January 2024 further emphasizes the government’s dedication to digitalization efforts.
“Hiring a candidate is not our only priority, retaining that talent is of equal importance.” says Choh Yau Meng, Vice President of Human Resources Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. “Over the years, Huawei has been recognised as a popular employer, not only because of the way we treat our employees but also due to how we grow together with our workforce, evolving, learning and developing side by side.”
“In recognition of our human resource practices, we have been honoured to be named Champion of Malaysia’s Most Preferred Employer in the Electronics category by the GRADUAN Brand Awards in 2023 – an award we have clinched for two consecutive years. We also have the distinction of being among the Graduates’ Top 1% Choice of Employers in the Talentbank Graduates’ Choice Awards 2024.
In addition to that, Huawei Malaysia also received acknowledgement and honours in the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2023 awards and the HR Asia Digital Transformation Awards 2023. These prestigious awards underscore our dedication to creating an inclusive and dynamic work environment,” Meng continues.
Huawei also believes in giving back by cultivating talent for the nation.
“That is why we have 39 ICT Academies to date in public and private institutions of learning in Malaysia. These academies are a partnership between Huawei and higher learning institutions around the nation.” Meng continues. “Through this partnership, the academy delivers Huawei ICT technologies training, encourages students to get Huawei certification, and develops talents with practical skills for the ICT industry and the community.
That is not all. The ICT Academies fall under the purview of the Huawei ASEAN Academy and we have already exceeded our target of producing 50,000 digital talents in Malaysia by 2025, with 54,000 talents already cultivated thus far.”
MALAYSIA: TOWARDS BECOMING ASEAN’S DIGITAL CAPITAL
COVID-19 drastically changed working norms and gave the digital agenda a shot in the arm both in Malaysia and on a global scale. We believe that Malaysia has strategic advantages to grow into a regional powerhouse for the digital economy and is extremely well-positioned to take advantage of emerging technologies.
A multicultural and well-educated workforce endows the nation’s talent pool with a diversity that has the distinction of being almost unrivalled in the region. Other interesting demographic factors include a high literacy rate, a balanced male-female gender ratio, a strong pipeline of skilled young talent.
To become a leading talent destination, organisations will have to work hard on growing and retaining talent. Closing the gap between skill set requirements and market demand remains a high priority. That is where academia-industry partnerships become crucial to ensure what is generated is actually what is needed.
An enabling environment for talent growth is critical to steer Malaysia towards being the region’s “digital tiger”. For an organisation, success is built on the foundation of a healthy, thriving workforce that is ready to face the future. For a nation, industries, fuelled by its people, are its strength.
Going digital is no longer a choice but a necessity. It is not technology that will replace jobs, it is the people who know how to utilise this technology that will do so.
