KUALA LUMPUR: Listening to workers, employers and industry players must form the basis of policymaking to ensure every measure taken genuinely addresses challenges on the ground, says Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.
The Human Resources Minister said the approach was increasingly important as Malaysia faced rapid changes in the employment landscape, driven by the development of artificial intelligence (AI), new technologies and evolving industry demands.
“My direction is very simple: listen to the people. Our job is to hear them, understand the challenges on the ground and take those views into account when we decide what needs to be done,” he said during the Salam Dari Malaysia @ Singapore engagement with Malaysians here, on Thursday (Aug 13).
Ramanan said feedback from stakeholders was crucial to ensuring policies were not only well-intentioned, but also practical, relevant and capable of addressing actual needs.
On AI, he said the key question was not whether the technology would replace existing jobs, but whether Malaysia’s workforce was prepared for the changes ahead.
“The real question is not whether AI will replace us. It is whether we are prepared to keep up.
“Technology will continue to evolve. If we equip ourselves with knowledge, upskill and reskill, there will still be people behind the technology who manage it, guide it and make it work,” he said.
Ramanan said strengthening the country’s skills ecosystem would remain a priority, with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) playing an important role in producing industry-ready workers.
He said the 95.5% employment rate among TVET graduates and 97.2% employer satisfaction rate demonstrated the value of skilled graduates to the industry.
“TVET should not be seen merely as a pathway to getting a job. It is about developing skilled, capable and industry-ready Malaysians who can contribute to the country’s economic growth,” he said.
Ramanan also urged Malaysians working in Singapore to share their knowledge, skills and professional experience gained abroad to support talent development in Malaysia.
“The experience Malaysians gain in Singapore is valuable. Be a mentor, share your professional experience and help someone in your field grow,” he said.
He said such experience could also contribute to developing talent and strengthening Malaysia’s workforce.
Ramanan said Malaysia’s future competitiveness would depend on its ability to ensure that its people could participate in and benefit from economic and technological progress.
“By listening to the people, equipping Malaysians with the right skills and creating meaningful opportunities, we can build a future-ready workforce where everyone has the chance to contribute, progress and succeed,” he said.
