KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Industry players and training providers have lauded the Human Resources Ministry's (KESUMA) move to enhance the Human Resource Development Corporation's (HRD Corp) Allowable Cost Matrix (ACM).
In a statement today, HRD Corp said employers, industry associations, and training and coaching communities noted that the ministry's move would provide greater flexibility for employers and their employees while supporting the growth of the training industry.
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president, Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the new fee structure allows employers more flexibility in conducting training programmes, including professional development courses and flexible modular courses.
"We also believe that the increase to the ceiling of HRD Corp training fees would enable employers to conduct more high-quality and high-value training programmes that meet employers' requirements," he said.
SME Association of Malaysia national president Chin Chee Seong said the introduction of hourly-based claims for training programmes is particularly beneficial for SMEs, as it ensures training can be done without disrupting daily operations, resulting in more cost-effective and targeted upskilling efforts.
"The increase in the ceiling for claimable course fees allows employers to access higher-quality and premium courses that would previously have been inaccessible, fostering greater competitiveness in local and global markets," he said.
Meanwhile, Azman Shah Aziz, president of the Malaysian Bumiputera Training Providers Association (MBTA), said the initiative aligns with the evolving needs of the modern workforce and highlights the ministry's commitment to fostering a flexible and high-quality learning ecosystem in Malaysia.
The International Association of Coaching (IAC) chapter leader for Malaysia Bavani Periasamy said these new enhancements will pave the way for the successful implementation of the new course structure for certified coaches in the near future.
In the same statement, the president of the Malaysian Training Providers Association (MATPRO), Prof Dr Abdul Kabur Ibrahim, also believes the enhancements to the ACM will galvanise the training community as it looks forward to providing more high-value training programmes for the Malaysian workforce.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong recently announced that companies can now claim training course fees based on hourly rates, replacing the previous half-day or full-day structures, allowing employers to benefit from shorter training programmes.
HRD Corp will also raise the ceiling for course fees to up to RM1,500 per hour or RM10,500 per day from the previous RM6,000 per day.
-- BERNAMA
