Shahul has been able to position HRD Corp as a strategic national enabler of Malaysia’s human capital development
PETALING JAYA: The Human Resources Development Corp (HRD Corp) chief executive seat has always been a hot one.
It’s not surprising as it sits on a huge pile of cash.
Not only has every single HRD Corp chief executive come under scrutiny, so does the Human Resources Minister which the top official reports to.
Their political affiliation does not matter, regardless if they are from Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan.
No one is spared as employers demand public accountability. This is rightly so, although some political opportunism does come into play.
The HRD Corp is responsible for collecting levies from approximately 100,000 employers for staff training and upskilling purposes.
Last Tuesday, its chief executive Datuk Shahul Dawood took his final bow after five years at the helm.
There has been much controversy surrounding Shahul’s leadership which included being thrust in the spotlight last year following findings from the Public Accounts Committee and the Auditor General’s Report 2024.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency also initiated investigations following a report made by current Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.
All these negative news dominated the headlines, casting a shadow over Shahul and HRD Corp.
Some commenters and even employers, at one point, even suggested that levy collection should be stopped completely. These, however, were knee-jerk reactions and ill thought out.
The reality is many companies, especially the smaller ones, do not see the returns of investments in training.
From my experience, many see training as taking precious working time away. Others prefer to take staff away for “team building” – with little real training included to justify claims on their levies.
Effective training, however, demands time and attendance as online training is not enough. It cannot be done in a day or two.
Let’s give credit to Shahul, too, as under his leadership, he has been able to position HRD Corp as a strategic national enabler of Malaysia’s human capital development.
Together with his team, HRD Corp achieved remarkable milestones including a increase in assets under management – surpassing RM4bil in 2024 – a 101% increase since 2020.
Levy collections reached RM2.32bil with grant approvals at RM2.28bil, reflecting a strong 98% utilisation rate.
HRD Corp shattered records by achieving an all-time high income of RM434.2mil last year, marking a powerful 86% surge since 2020, a true testament to our country’s growth trajectory.
It delivered a remarkable surplus before tax of RM127mil, reflecting an impressive 393% increase since the year 2020.
It also made a significant impact through levies and grants in achieving a historic levy collection of RM2.32bil, complemented by grant approvals totalling RM2.28bil and an outstanding 98% utilisation rate, maximising value delivered.
HRD Corp has declared this year the Asean Year of Skills, reinforcing its leadership in regional workforce development.
HRD Corp drove critical policy enhancements that elevated industry engagement, expanded access to training and strengthened the national talent ecosystem.
Through a comprehensive digital transformation, HRD Corp improved its service delivery, accelerated processing times and significantly enhanced user experience.
These outcomes reflect more than operational success – they signify a fundamental shift in how HRD Corp delivers impact through people, processes and technology.
From digital innovation and policy influence to stakeholder engagement and performance excellence, it has raised the bar on what is possible.
Sim has not yet announced who will take over the driver’s seat at HRD Corp. The new person will need to do better than Shahul, who has set the benchmark.
The HRD Corp isn’t just an entity that provides and coordinates training but as with any chief executive officer, there is also the need to earn revenue.
