HUMAN resource assistant A. Savithiri, 41, may not be able to hear or speak, but she is very much “heard” at her workplace, Flex.
The mother of two, recently named the Gold Award winner for Young HR Talent of the Year at the HR Excellence Awards 2025, is one of over 70 employees with disabilities (OKU) at the firm and she also oversees them.
Savithiri’s experience highlights the inclusive culture of the company, with most supervisors and managers being able to understand basic sign language.
She said she had always wanted to advance her studies beyond her civil engineering certificate, and she has finally obtained a professional certificate in the well-being of persons with disability, supported by the company.
Flex, a major player in the manufacturing industry, directly addresses the common barriers to career advancement faced by OKUs through its extensive Professional Competency Programme Path.
“I am encouraged to keep learning,” said Savithiri, whose role at Flex is to ensure disabled employees receive support.
“Most supervisors and managers here understand basic sign language, so communication is easy.
“My team members also made the effort to learn sign language, which makes collaboration smooth and meaningful.”
Programme management assistant manager Lim Ai Nee, 49, progressed from a diploma to a master’s degree in strategy management and leadership.
Since joining Flex in 2004, Lim said she experienced tremendous growth from when she started as a personal assistant with a diploma.
“Completing my master’s was a big achievement,” added Lim.
Quality technician T. Thaatchayani, 26, who had to start working due to financial constraints, completed the professional graduate qualification Level Six in manufacturing management, which is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
“It is a dream come true and a step forward in my professional growth,” she said.
D. Sanjeet Mohan, the learning and development manager of Flex Penang, confirmed that their training centre supports all eight plants in Penang.
It offers 27 programmes currently and 1,794 employees have completed certifications including diploma, bachelor’s and master’s degree to date.
He said they will soon introduce PhD programmes.
The free in-house initiative allows employees to further their education, from professional certification up to master’s level, during working hours, with no bond requirement.
The programmes are developed in affiliation with 14 local public and private tertiary education institutions and universities.
The company focuses on matching the disabled to suitable roles, providing training from scratch, just as with all its other employees.
Flex conducts targeted roadshows, provides basic sign language training for staff and is one of the largest employers of OKUs in Malaysia, with over 200 nationwide.
Flex is still hiring in Penang and continues to look for local talent.
Flex Penang’s operations vice-president Tang Eng Chok summarised the commitment: “We strive to help team members reach their full potential through a strong culture of safety, continuous learning and development.”
