KUALA LUMPUR: S. Thachayaani comes from a B40 family. Her policeman father passed away when she was 17, and her mother had to raise her two daughters on her own working as a tailor.
She had to wear hand-me-downs and live simply and, with little money, she had to grow up quickly.
Today, the 27-year-old is pursuing her dream of becoming a cybersecurity risk consultant thanks to the Malaysian Indian Skills Initiative 2.0 (MiSI 2.0).
Thachayaani, who studied data analytics, said she decided to explore this new field for a few reasons, and applying for this programme was a no-brainer.
“I have always been interested in digital forensics. The programme has been an excellent starting point for fresh graduates to explore career paths,” said Thachayaani, who is nearing the end of her five-month programme and is undergoing her work placement. Her family is also in a better financial position now.
“This programme has allowed me to receive an income of RM1,700, helping my family to live more comfortably,” she said.
She said her mother was proud of her achievements.
“She has been incredibly supportive,” added Thachayaani.
The MiSI 2.0 programme is aimed at providing employment to graduates, especially to those in the B40 category, by providing training and job placements.
The initiative encompasses high-value sectors such as information and communications technology, electrical and electronics, aerospace, and global business services.
It is fronted by two agencies under the Human Resources Ministry – HRD Corp and Talent Corp.
A total of 130 Malaysian Indian graduates completed their training under the initiative yesterday.
R. Visnu, 25, is currently on probation for six months as a 5G technician. He decided to apply for MiSI 2.0 to further his interest in cloud security.
“I wanted to learn about 5G networking, and when I heard about this programme, I immediately applied and was lucky to pass the interview,” he said, adding that he decided to make a career switch after graduating in cybersecurity.
“I am always keen to learn about cloud security.”
With his new job, he said he has been able to receive a decent income.
“The pay is all right now, but I think as I improve, I will be able to earn more,” he added.
M. Yogenthiran, 25, who works as an offensive security consultant, said that joining the programme has allowed him to apply the skills that he learnt.
“I wanted a programme that would allow me to learn and apply the skills I learnt during my degree years. This programme met the criteria,” he said.
Yogenthiran said participants should be bold whem making their decisions.
“Never be afraid to pursue what you wish. Put one foot in front of the other and move forward, regardless of the circumstances. And never look back,” he said.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, who was at the graduation ceremony, said it was a day of pride for the parents.
“This ceremony does not just mark the completion of a training programme. It celebrates the success of transforming lives through employment, skills and clear career pathways,” he said.
Ramanan said more than 400 participants completed their training under the programme, with nearly 300 securing employment with starting salaries ranging from RM3,000 to RM7,500 per month.
“More impressively, 83% were from B40 families,” he said.
TalentCorp also announced an increase in participants, with 500 more places to be provided. The MiSI 2.0 programme will also be rebranded as Vetri Madani, with an increased allocation.
“The allocation of RM4mil will be doubled, but we will assess needs to make sure every sen is well used,” he said.
He said he hoped that the programme would enable people to become skilled especially in the artificial intelligence and engineering sectors.
