TalentCorp and MyDIGITAL Launch MyMahir National AI Council for Industry to Accelerate Workforce Readiness

24 May 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has embarked on a significant initiative to bolster its AI workforce development through the establishment of the MyMahir National AI Council for Industry (MyMahir–NAICI). Led by Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp), under the Ministry of Human Resources (KSM), and the National AI Office (NAIO) via MyDIGITAL Corporation (MyDIGITAL) under the Ministry of Digital, this Council provides a national platform to coordinate AI talent development, pilot adoption strategies, and drive multi-sector implementation.

Today’s inaugural meeting marked the beginning of a structured, cross-agency partnership aimed at advancing Malaysia’s AI readiness. The event also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TalentCorp and MyDIGITAL, witnessed by Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of KSM, and Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital.

“The question is not whether AI will replace jobs, but whether we will empower Malaysians to evolve with it,” said Steven Sim Chee Keong. “Through MyMahir–NAICI, we are establishing a whole-of-nation mechanism that aligns skills with strategy, technology with talent, and policy with purpose. This Council is a commitment to ensure Malaysians are not just job-ready, but AI-ready.”

Reaffirming this shared commitment, Gobind Singh Deo added, “This is where government leadership becomes essential — building the enabling structures that connect innovation to real-world AI deployment. While NAIO focuses on creating demand and representing implementation, TalentCorp concentrates on building the talent pipeline, with MyMahir–NAICI completing the virtuous cycle by continuously informing policy improvements.”

The Council formalises a three-year collaboration centred on four strategic pillars: AI Talent Development, Industry Integration, Policy and Funding Alignment, and Stakeholder Governance. TalentCorp will serve as the secretariat, with NAIO guiding alignment with the national AI roadmap.

Supporting this initiative are four key instruments: the MyMahir Impact Study, which identifies affected roles, emerging jobs, and future skills; the MyMahir.my platform, facilitating policy-to-action implementation; the G.I.A.T. Action Plan, which coordinates efforts across Government, Industry, Academia, and Training Providers; and the AI Talent Framework, covering the entire skills pipeline from digital literacy to advanced AI expertise.

According to the Impact Study, approximately 620,000 jobs, or 18% of formal sector roles in Malaysia, are expected to be significantly affected by AI over the next three to five years. Simultaneously, 60 emerging roles have been identified across AI, digital, green, and deep tech sectors. These insights will inform all Council-led activities, including the design of sector-specific pilot programmes.

A key feature of this collaboration is the integration of the AI Readiness Index (AIRI) into the MyMahir.my platform, enabling companies to assess their AI preparedness, identify capability gaps, and take actionable steps towards transformation. Pilot use cases will also be validated through AI sandbox programmes, utilising real-world problem statements sourced directly from industry.

“As the strategic think tank for KSM, TalentCorp’s role is to link national workforce strategies with sector-driven insights and implementation,” said Thomas Mathew, Group CEO of TalentCorp. “MyMahir–NAICI embodies this approach — identifying talent needs, coordinating skills development efforts, and ensuring Malaysia’s human capital policies remain agile, inclusive, and impactful.”

Adrian Marcellus, CEO of MyDIGITAL Corporation, added, “NAIO’s role is to coordinate national AI policies and strategies, guide ethical innovation, and ensure AI is deployed with purpose, trust, and impact. NAIO will play a vital role in shaping national workforce foresight and helping industry navigate the AI landscape.”

The Council’s progress and outcomes will be overseen by the newly established AI Implementation Monitoring Unit (AI-IMU). This unit, comprising key agencies, will track milestones, oversee delivery, and report progress to the Ministers. It will also facilitate continuous improvement of sectoral workplans based on real-time feedback from Council members.

Through MyMahir–NAICI, Malaysia is strengthening its AI ecosystem by aligning innovation with talent development and translating data into actionable insights. This initiative supports national priorities including the Madani Economy, NIMP 2030, and the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint.