- 4 minutes ago
Malaysia's youth unemployment rate remains higher than the national average, even as AI and technology reshape the future of work. How prepared are young Malaysians for the jobs of tomorrow?
Join us as REHDA COO David S. Chong and industry leader Datuk Haji Muztaza Mohamad discuss graduate employability, AI readiness, industry-academia collaboration, and key workforce priorities that could help shape Malaysia's talent agenda ahead of Budget 2027.
Join us as REHDA COO David S. Chong and industry leader Datuk Haji Muztaza Mohamad discuss graduate employability, AI readiness, industry-academia collaboration, and key workforce priorities that could help shape Malaysia's talent agenda ahead of Budget 2027.
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NewsTranscript
00:08Thank you for tuning in, Tonya Gawani.
00:10Right now we want to talk about Malaysia's unemployment rate
00:13that may be relatively low at around 3% right now.
00:16But youth unemployment tells a different story.
00:19So more than one in 10 Malaysians that age between 15 and 24
00:24are actually still struggling to find a meaningful employment.
00:27And at the same time, artificial intelligence or as we call it AI,
00:31automation and rapid technological change
00:33are actually reshaping the workplace faster than ever before.
00:37So this raises an important question.
00:39Are our young people being prepared for the jobs of the future
00:43or are we training them for a workforce that is already changing?
00:47So today we also look at whether industry-led initiatives
00:49can actually help bridge the gap between education and employment.
00:54And more importantly, what lessons policymakers can take
00:56as Malaysia prepares for a budget 2027 in Oktober.
01:00So joining us today are David S. Chong,
01:02the Chief Operating Officer of Reda Institute.
01:05And on my right is Dato' Haji Musazza Muhammad,
01:07the founder and also chairman of Fairview Group of Companies
01:10and also the trustee of Reda Institute.
01:12Thank you so much for joining us this morning.
01:14How are you guys?
01:15Thank you very much.
01:16Very good.
01:17Amazing.
01:18Amazing.
01:19Thank you for taking the time to speak with me this morning.
01:21So let's set the scene of this interview today
01:24and we're going to start with the very basic questions.
01:27Can we see that Malaysia's overall employment now remains at relatively low, 3%,
01:32but youth unemployment is higher, which is 10.2% among the age of 15 to 24.
01:37So when you look at the current landscape right now of unemployment,
01:42what do you believe is driving this disconnect between economic growth
01:45and also unemployment for young Malaysian?
01:49Maybe we can start with Dato' first.
01:50Thank you, Nabila.
01:52The national average of 3% I believe is very good for the job market
02:00and the 10% for the youth, I believe there are many reasons for the disparity
02:09between the national average and the youth.
02:12I think number one is basically their attitude towards employment
02:17because I believe it's between 15 years old and 24 years old.
02:21They're still in education.
02:24I believe is that they are actually looking for the job that they love actually.
02:33So they may have to have this what we call the gaps.
02:37There's a gap between.
02:38Sometimes after their final exams, sometimes they like to take a break,
02:43travel overseas sometimes, you know.
02:46Sometimes they do part-time jobs, sometimes volunteer jobs.
02:49So this basically take off from the real employment market actually.
02:54But as you say, there's only 10% of them.
02:56So 90% are still working.
02:58So it's still not that bad.
03:00And 10%, these youth actually, they're so supported by their parents, I believe.
03:06So in terms of the accessibility, it's okay.
03:11Because they're supported by their parents.
03:13But as a country, we love them to have proper jobs.
03:19You know, more productive jobs.
03:22So that's why we believe that this radar initiative is very important to bridge the gaps
03:29between the employers and the academicians actually.
03:36When I've, because during the many years, I've been working for the last 45 years.
03:43So I interviewed hundreds of, you know, candidates.
03:48So when they first come in for interviews,
03:52at one look, we know them whether they are suitable candidates or not.
03:56So as a candidate, I think you should be more prepared actually.
04:02I think most of them are not well prepared for the job market actually.
04:06So I think maybe their training is not there.
04:10Maybe there's not much education to teach them, you know,
04:16basically how to do proper, to conduct proper interviews.
04:20Like my children, my daughter in UK previously,
04:25you know, they're quite old as well.
04:28For them to prepare for the interview,
04:31she prepared for one month.
04:33They have this, what I call computer test, you know,
04:37to see to what extent you're able to answer in certain time frame.
04:42Number two, they have a team building.
04:44They put in a hotel, they have a team building exercise.
04:47That's why they signed the contract.
04:48So it takes a touch, they very thoroughly.
04:52I mean, they have to know in that team building or that interview,
04:55they will test whether you know about the company or not.
04:58So during my many years of conducting these interviews,
05:04some of these people do not know the company that they work for.
05:07I asked them, do you know our company or not?
05:09I said, sorry, first time I heard about your company.
05:12Or first time, I don't know.
05:13But by right, they should go to SSM.
05:16Check the, you know, the cash flow.
05:18Check the, what you call it, the profit and loss account
05:20or the balance sheet, actually.
05:21It's very important, you know.
05:23Whether the company is able to settle or not.
05:26How much reserve they have.
05:27How much cash in the bank.
05:28All this are actually public information.
05:31So those people who say, look, I've checked your SSM.
05:35I've googled your company's name.
05:37I know what projects we are doing.
05:39You know, when they come very confident.
05:40Then, so I love this job.
05:42And they tell more about the job.
05:44You know, I can contribute to the company.
05:46And then when they come in and say, look, how much can you pay me?
05:49Can you afford to pay me?
05:50There are some, you know, people say, can you afford to pay me or not?
05:55So, you know, this type of questions put off a lot of people to the job place.
06:01So, basically, it's not a concern.
06:03It's not a concern yet, the 20.2.
06:05But what's more important is the right skill set
06:07and the knowledge that they have when it comes to picking the right candidates.
06:12What's your thoughts on this, David?
06:14Because when we talk about preparing young people,
06:16do you think that Malaysia is training them for the jobs that exist now?
06:19Or the jobs that will emerge five or perhaps even ten years from now?
06:24Yeah.
06:24Nabila, thank you for the question.
06:26Generally, I believe my opinion is that, you know,
06:30the companies that are giving employment to these youth or the young people,
06:34they also need to move, you know, ahead with the times,
06:36being demand-based, demand towards industry and commerce,
06:39where technology is heading.
06:41Hence, we believe that, you know, universities and the youth,
06:44they need to equip themselves, right, very quickly to adapt.
06:48They need to be adaptable and flexible to what the employers want
06:51because at the end of the day, the employers are also, you know,
06:54they need to be flexible.
06:55Businesses need to be flexible to the demand,
06:58to service their clients and, you know, where commerce is.
07:01So, in that sense, the adaptability and the flexibility needs to be trained
07:05and then also the universities play an important role to get them prepared.
07:11Amazing perspective.
07:12And no issue is more concerning, better than the emergence of AI or artificial intelligence.
07:19So, we're seeing AI now integrated across virtually every sector.
07:23So, my question to you, maybe Dato or David can answer this question,
07:28should young Malaysians be worried about technology replacing entry-level roles
07:33or should they be looking at AI as a tool that can actually enhance their employability?
07:38Actually, AI is an enabler.
07:40Actually, it helps us to do our job.
07:43In fact, it has to create new jobs.
07:45Actually, there's a study being done that actually more just being created
07:48rather than just being deleted through AI.
07:52There's been a study being done.
07:54Many thousand new jobs have been created.
07:57I couldn't quote all the names, you know, because it's all very high-founding
08:02and maybe the younger people.
08:05David?
08:06Sure.
08:07I think I believe that, you know, for example,
08:10we work very closely with several ministries as well for this program.
08:13Just to highlight that Minister of Economy, YB Akmal,
08:16will be doing the closing of this program.
08:18And we asked the students, you know, to look at the 13 Malaysian Plan,
08:21the Rancangan Malaysia ke-13,
08:23and to look at, you know, where is the direction of the government.
08:25So, what we believe is that the student needs to look at high-value jobs,
08:29high-value creation.
08:30Although there's just a buzzword,
08:32but I think there may need to be some form of framework
08:34to bridge this gap between what the system is
08:37and to what the high-value jobs are.
08:40So, we believe, like, you know, to end on what Dada said about,
08:43you know, getting them ready,
08:44is that, you know, we hope this RE-E program,
08:46the Radiance Youth Initiative that we are doing,
08:49will contribute to a certain extent to nation-building
08:51and to this youth of our country.
08:54So, like it or not, high will actually change the nature of work,
08:58be it small or big.
09:00But then employers themselves must also rethink
09:02what they are looking for when hiring, right?
09:05So, from your experience,
09:07both of you engaging directly with businesses and also employers,
09:10what are the biggest gaps that you see today
09:12between what graduates bring to the workplace
09:14and what industries actually need?
09:17And when can we find the middle point from there?
09:19Yeah, for my any experience, there's a strategic gap
09:22between the academicians and the industries actually.
09:28There's quite a big gap actually from my own experience.
09:32Because the universities, they shouldn't work in silos,
09:38like, you know, they should actually have a lot of integration.
09:42I mean, talking about proper integration.
09:46So, I believe people from the kindergarten stage,
09:49primary, secondary, they should integrate right from day one.
09:53Like kindergarten, they should visit factories.
09:55They should visit, you know,
09:58they should do the cleaning part.
09:59They should do a lot of interactive skills,
10:02you know, how to work together with the, you know,
10:05as if they're able to sell, you know,
10:07they become a stress man right from kindergarten actually.
10:11Because we here actually,
10:13every employer is looking for good stress man.
10:15What at kindergarten?
10:17Don't be shy to become stress man.
10:19If your children want to sell something in school,
10:21let them sell, you know, no, no, no, you, you know?
10:23You're too young. You're not too young.
10:24You're not too young.
10:25I said you malu the family, you know,
10:27you make disgrace to the family.
10:29So, all this, they don't understand.
10:31So, to me, right from day one,
10:33even preschool,
10:35teach them how to sell.
10:37Teach them how to work with their hands.
10:39Teach them how to think.
10:41Teach them how to do public speaking,
10:43able to talk well.
10:45You know, some of the, our people,
10:47when they go overseas,
10:48cannot speak very well.
10:49You know, sometimes we don't want to quote names.
10:52But, you should be trained,
10:53right from kindergarten stage,
10:55primary, everybody,
10:56able to speak well.
10:57Just look at Americans, you know,
10:59on TV,
11:00see how the well is speak,
11:01you know, young people.
11:03So, I think that should be the subject matter.
11:07Not exams,
11:09memorizing.
11:10You know,
11:11you don't have to memorize nowadays.
11:13You know,
11:14so, I believe
11:14that should be the way forward.
11:16A lot of integration.
11:18And then, they're able to visit
11:19the real story,
11:20visit factories.
11:21Or in the kampung,
11:22visit the,
11:23call it the industry kampung.
11:26Help them out.
11:28In my area,
11:29I also have a factories.
11:30These people,
11:31my staff actually,
11:32the ladies,
11:3430, 40 years ago,
11:35they asked for,
11:36nak pinjam,
11:37nak pinjam duit,
11:37anak-anak sekolah.
11:38So, I told them,
11:40eh,
11:41bring your children,
11:42after,
11:43must be above 16,
11:44like,
11:44not the Labour Department will come up to you,
11:46above 16.
11:47They come.
11:48And they work during the school holidays.
11:50And we pay them,
11:51reasonable,
11:51punya,
11:53punya wages.
11:54And then,
11:54with that money,
11:55they can pay the,
11:56the school.
11:57Actually,
11:57our school system,
12:00their punya,
12:00payment,
12:01I suppose,
12:01is very low.
12:02Pilihan duit ringgit.
12:03I tell them,
12:04I think,
12:04with one,
12:05one month,
12:05can I afford to pay for the whole year,
12:07their punya,
12:07school fees.
12:08So,
12:09in that way,
12:09you create a culture,
12:11jangan berhutang.
12:12Create a culture,
12:13where,
12:14you must be productive,
12:15from day one,
12:16actually,
12:16try to be productive.
12:18Everybody,
12:18this way,
12:19can say that,
12:20whether you add value or not,
12:21to your life or not,
12:22add value to the economy,
12:23add value.
12:25Anything subsidy will make your system weak,
12:27you know.
12:28In fact,
12:28I told my children,
12:29don't think any subsidy possible,
12:30because you make your system weak.
12:32You should be a contributor.
12:34So,
12:34right from kindergarten stage,
12:36we should ask,
12:36okay,
12:36how do I contribute?
12:38Right from day one,
12:39actually,
12:39and build up towards,
12:40new city and working.
12:42Because sometimes,
12:42when they look for a job,
12:45the first thing,
12:45they should ask,
12:45how can I contribute to your company?
12:48Then,
12:49can you pay me or not?
12:50You know,
12:51how much is my gaji?
12:52You know,
12:53only them,
12:53them,
12:54them only.
12:54So,
12:55I think the mindset,
12:56need to be changed.
12:57Look at the migrants.
13:00You know,
13:00I also give a talk on mentoring,
13:02the migrants.
13:03They come in here with nothing.
13:04They end up with everything.
13:06You know?
13:07And we can already see,
13:08that they already,
13:09just talk.
13:10And then you want to chase them out of the country,
13:11because they got everything.
13:12I understand.
13:14So,
13:15it's reality,
13:15actually.
13:16You have to wake up.
13:18All of us have to wake up,
13:19you know?
13:20So,
13:20you have to start young.
13:22Don't leave everything,
13:23you know?
13:23Government,
13:24government.
13:24Government say,
13:26the end of the day,
13:26government come and go.
13:27I mean,
13:28the people in the government,
13:29government stay,
13:30but people around the government
13:31are not there for you
13:32all the time.
13:34So,
13:34we have to take care of ourselves.
13:35Yeah.
13:37So,
13:37you have to start within yourself.
13:38Yes.
13:39Start from yourself
13:39and start contributing
13:41to others around you.
13:43Contributing.
13:46So,
13:47baik-baik manusia,
13:48manusia boleh manfaatkan diri sendiri
13:50kepada orang lain.
13:51It's the best people that
13:53us contribute
13:53is the best of all the people.
13:56Okay?
13:56Tangan kadhan,
13:57rebaik petang kiri.
13:58Tangan yang memberi
13:59oleh baik tangan yang menerima.
14:01So,
14:01I think kita punya mind
14:02must drum to our people
14:03all the time.
14:05Politicians also
14:05must do their job.
14:07You know,
14:07jangan,
14:08you know,
14:08for voting purposes,
14:10you know,
14:11you change your mind,
14:12the way you think.
14:12Tak boleh.
14:13We have to do
14:14for society and regularly.
14:16In business,
14:17to be successful,
14:18you must be persistent.
14:20You must be very persistent,
14:22very patient,
14:22very persistent,
14:23and 30, 40,
14:24you get the result.
14:26There's no shortcut,
14:27actually,
14:27in life,
14:28in business,
14:29in life,
14:30in building up a country,
14:31no shortcut.
14:32You look at the success story
14:33of every country.
14:35There's no shortcut.
14:36Look at Japan,
14:37Korea,
14:38Singapore,
14:39there's no shortcut.
14:40You study their history,
14:41you know already.
14:41You don't tolerate certain things.
14:43Okay,
14:44so it's very important
14:45for us to start young
14:46and it's always not too late.
14:49Okay?
14:50Be late than never.
14:51Okay?
14:52Since Datuk has touched on
14:54integration or collaboration,
14:56and now we've heard years
14:57about the importance of industry
14:59and academia collaboration,
15:01so that brings us to the next question,
15:03which is about
15:04R.I.Y.I.
15:05Ataupun Radar Institute
15:07Youth Initiative.
15:09So we've heard about this
15:10and is this one of the reasons
15:12why initiatives such as
15:13Radar
15:13or Radar Institute Initiative
15:16were introduced
15:16and what are the,
15:18some of the initiatives
15:21goal for this,
15:22R.I.Y.I.?
15:23Sure.
15:23Thank you, Nabila.
15:24Basically,
15:25Radar Institute is an NGO.
15:27We are a social enterprise
15:28and we are a regional think tank.
15:30So,
15:31Datuk Mustazah
15:32is one of our trustees,
15:33pemegang amanah.
15:34Generally,
15:35as the institute,
15:36what we want to do
15:36is for this program,
15:37we actually want to capture
15:39the ES energy
15:40in a particular program.
15:42But as Datuk mentioned,
15:43how can we contribute,
15:44the institute contribute as well
15:45to the nation building
15:47and to also to the youth
15:48and play a role to the youth.
15:49So what we realize is that
15:51through industry connections,
15:53we have a lot of mentors
15:54and employers,
15:56corporate captains,
15:57like Datuk for instance.
15:58And we realize that
15:59when we speak to the youth
16:00and also looking at
16:01the press and media,
16:02youth complain for
16:03for instance,
16:04some of the grousers are,
16:05for example,
16:06paid wages
16:06and it's not adequate,
16:07et cetera.
16:08So we wanted to bridge
16:09both gaps.
16:10One component is the employer
16:12saying that perhaps
16:12the youth should be more ready
16:14when they go to employment,
16:15as exactly what Datuk mentioned.
16:17So how are we intending
16:19to bridge the gap
16:19is that we wanted to get
16:21the employer's views,
16:22so being demand-driven,
16:23get the HR from top companies,
16:24right?
16:25For example,
16:26on this program,
16:26we have top companies,
16:27for example,
16:28signed up with property,
16:29have a land,
16:29a permal.
16:29So we get these big employers
16:31to have a look at,
16:32you know,
16:33where is the gap
16:34that's missing at this moment?
16:35At the same time,
16:36we have engaged with
16:36more than 15 universities
16:38throughout the country.
16:39These universities are
16:39public,
16:40private universities
16:41from all over Malaysia.
16:42So we're bringing them
16:43in together
16:44to bridge this gap.
16:46And we are also doing
16:47a short study
16:48with the students
16:49and the employers
16:50on where is the gap
16:51and how we can bridge
16:52this gap.
16:53And that's why
16:54in this instance,
16:54in this program,
16:55RIYI,
16:56the institute is also
16:57working with several ministries,
16:59for example,
16:59Talent Corporation
17:00under the Ministry
17:01of Human Resource
17:02and also with the Ministry
17:04of Economy.
17:05The Minister of Economy,
17:06YB Akmal,
17:06will be closing this program.
17:07So we hope that,
17:09you know,
17:09this information
17:10can be brought up
17:10to the ministry as well
17:11to improve
17:12or give feedback
17:14for the ministry
17:15for the improvement
17:16of the country.
17:17Interesting.
17:18Because usually
17:18and also traditionally,
17:19you always hear
17:20internships, right?
17:21And many companies
17:22view internships
17:22as a sufficient exposure
17:24for students.
17:25But given the pace
17:26of the change
17:27that we see right now,
17:29is internship experience
17:30alone enough?
17:31And how should
17:32employers rethink
17:32engagement with
17:34young talent,
17:34perhaps through
17:35the program RIYI itself?
17:37Sure.
17:38So at this program,
17:39basically,
17:40as I mentioned,
17:41we want to bridge the gap.
17:42And we believe
17:42the right person,
17:43we want to use data
17:45to substantiate.
17:46So basically,
17:47we wanted to ask
17:47the employers,
17:48what are the top grousers
17:49or top components,
17:51right,
17:51that is missing?
17:52In the graduates.
17:54So we hope
17:55that this feedback
17:55will be given
17:56not just to the students
17:57but to the universities
17:58and perhaps,
17:59if possible,
17:59they could revamp
18:00some components
18:01or at least
18:02they know what's out there
18:03that they can,
18:04you know,
18:04move quick enough.
18:06I believe the universities
18:07are good
18:07but perhaps there are,
18:09you know,
18:09additional supplementary
18:10programs that they could do.
18:12As you mentioned,
18:13Nabila,
18:13with the AI world,
18:14things are changing
18:15so fast, right?
18:16So we need to keep
18:17up to pace.
18:18We hope this can assist them
18:19in the endeavors.
18:20My question to you,
18:21Dato.
18:22We see that the property
18:23industry itself
18:24is actually undergoing
18:25a significant transformation.
18:27So whether through
18:27digitalization,
18:29sustainability requirements
18:30and also we have
18:31data-driven planning
18:32or smart city development
18:34as well.
18:35So what kind of skills
18:35do you believe
18:36young professionals
18:37entering the sector
18:38will need
18:39over the next
18:40five to ten years?
18:42If you look at
18:43the real estate industry,
18:45property and real estate
18:46industry
18:46or housing industry,
18:48it's very diverse.
18:50There are many stakeholders
18:51actually.
18:52There are many,
18:53what we call,
18:55contributors
18:55to the success
18:56of the industry.
18:58So if you look around,
19:00there might be
19:00start with the land owners
19:01first,
19:02people who own
19:02the properties.
19:04There are people
19:04who design,
19:06who plan,
19:06you know,
19:07construct.
19:08There are many players.
19:09There are about 200
19:10industries actually
19:11supporting the real estate
19:13and housing industry.
19:15200 industries.
19:17Maybe millions of jobs
19:18being created
19:19through development,
19:22property development.
19:23Almost all government
19:24departments are involved.
19:25All utility companies
19:27are involved.
19:27The TNB,
19:28you have the utility
19:29companies,
19:30water,
19:31you know,
19:32telecommunication
19:32and so on.
19:34Even the media
19:35are involved
19:35through sales,
19:37you know,
19:37advertising and so on.
19:39So basically,
19:41the discipline
19:42that we need
19:42is almost
19:43every discipline
19:44that we can find
19:44actually are
19:46in the real estate
19:47industry actually.
19:48You know,
19:48in the industry.
19:49So it's very important
19:50for us
19:51to really have this
19:52when we first recruit,
19:54now there's a
19:55depth of talent
19:56because from our
19:58experience,
19:59we interview
20:00for engineers
20:01when we,
20:03what I call it,
20:05looking,
20:06trying to recruit
20:07accountants,
20:08trying to recruit
20:09not other professionals
20:10or even at
20:11consultant level.
20:13I think the level
20:14of service,
20:15I think it needs
20:15to be improved.
20:16The level of service.
20:16This is a very
20:17hard to hard talk.
20:18You know,
20:19I'm not going to,
20:20you know,
20:20we really need
20:21to boost up
20:22the level
20:23or to upscale,
20:24you know,
20:25our requirements actually
20:26because we need
20:27to be at that level now
20:30because we go to Dubai
20:31example,
20:32we were there
20:32before,
20:33right now we
20:34make a study trip.
20:35Sometimes we do
20:35study trips all over
20:36the world actually.
20:37So we're very familiar
20:38with the world best,
20:39world best practices.
20:41In fact,
20:42they say to be the best,
20:43you have to get the best.
20:45I was talking to Dubai.
20:47I said to be the best,
20:49you have to get the best.
20:50And industry
20:51are very challenging,
20:52you know,
20:53to do,
20:54let's say,
20:55massive,
20:55you know,
20:56partnerships actually.
20:58You have to get the best.
20:59It's not easy
21:00to plan,
21:01to integrate,
21:02to follow up
21:03and so on.
21:04So in order to prevent,
21:06I should say,
21:07you know,
21:09projects,
21:10abundant projects,
21:11so your cash flow
21:12planning is very important,
21:14the physical study
21:15and so on.
21:16But not too
21:17over-regulated lah.
21:18In fact,
21:18right now the government
21:19introduced a lot
21:20of systems
21:21to actually monitor
21:23developers.
21:24HEMS,
21:24Tado,
21:26to get your
21:26advertising permit,
21:28you have to go through,
21:29you know,
21:29there are many
21:29checklists,
21:31developer license,
21:32a lot of checklists,
21:33you know,
21:34and then buyers itself,
21:35you know,
21:35nowadays are
21:36very well-renowned lah.
21:37They compare prices,
21:39they look at
21:40your models,
21:41you know,
21:423D,
21:42a lot of things now lah.
21:43So they compare prices
21:45per square foot basis,
21:47they're very knowledgeable.
21:48you know,
21:49so,
21:50so your people actually
21:51able to explain,
21:53normally we get agents lah,
21:54property agents and so on.
21:55Again,
21:56selection of agents
21:57are very important.
21:59Number one,
21:59they must be,
22:00what we call it,
22:01registered lah,
22:02you know,
22:02proper lah,
22:03you cannot get someone,
22:05anybody,
22:06you know,
22:07on the street to sell lah,
22:08you know,
22:08there must be proper
22:08etiquette lah to sell.
22:10Because we're thinking about
22:11people's lifelong investment,
22:13when they buy a house,
22:14normally it's their first house
22:16or the only house
22:17through their lifetime.
22:1870% maybe own only one house.
22:21Maybe 1% of population
22:22own more than 10 house lah.
22:24But these people
22:25that we have to take care.
22:26So,
22:26we have to protect them actually.
22:28I always tell my people,
22:31the,
22:31the side people,
22:34if they complain lah,
22:37if they complain,
22:39you have to answer.
22:41You know,
22:41I told them up to that level.
22:43So,
22:43you know,
22:45they think like that.
22:45So,
22:46we can think that
22:47it's not only in this world.
22:48In the year after,
22:49so you have to answer
22:50if they complain to you.
22:52So,
22:52so in that way,
22:54it's just not monetary.
22:55It's so spiritually.
22:57So,
22:57we want to have
22:59integrity
22:59is very important.
23:01In this business,
23:02I would say
23:02integrity is number one.
23:04But integrity
23:05is only not the developer.
23:06It's everybody
23:07in the ecosystem lah.
23:10To be fair lah,
23:11you know.
23:11But I will not say
23:12more than this lah
23:13because,
23:14you know,
23:14but the world
23:15is not made out
23:16of honest people.
23:17There are many
23:19diverse people actually.
23:20But we have to manage them lah.
23:22You have to manage them properly.
23:24And I believe
23:24we have gone very far actually.
23:26I think we have,
23:28I think we have developed
23:30something like 70% to 75%
23:32of the home ownership actually.
23:34So,
23:34we are very lucky
23:35that everybody in Malaysia,
23:37almost every Malaysia
23:38have owned a house actually.
23:39About 70-80% of them.
23:40Right, Datuk.
23:41And the price
23:41are very affordable actually
23:42compared to the
23:43our surrounding countries.
23:44Okay.
23:45Okay.
23:46Amazing.
23:46So,
23:47knowledge and literacy
23:48is kill
23:48comes with integrity as well.
23:50Very important.
23:51Very, very important.
23:52Alright,
23:52back to the program
23:53RIYI.
23:54So,
23:54so far through
23:55your engagement
23:55with students
23:56from different universities,
23:57what have you learned
23:58about this
23:58generation's inspirations,
24:00aspirations,
24:00and actually concerns
24:02and aspirations
24:02about work,
24:03the work-life balance
24:05and how their priorities
24:07change compared
24:08to previous generations
24:08entering the workforce.
24:10That's the first question.
24:11Second question is
24:11if you could propose
24:12several priority actions
24:13for policymakers today,
24:15what would need to change
24:16at the ecosystem level
24:17to better prepare graduates
24:19for a technology-driven
24:21economy perhaps?
24:22What we realise is
24:23that these students
24:24in this programme
24:25that we encounter,
24:27actually they are
24:27very intelligent,
24:28very adaptable
24:29in many ways.
24:30But perhaps because
24:31they come from
24:32a very diverse background
24:33all over the country
24:34and what we realise
24:35of course in the cities
24:36or the urban areas,
24:38the exposure
24:39is a little bit different.
24:40So,
24:41we want to bridge
24:42this gap as well
24:42from people
24:43from different states,
24:44all over the country
24:45of Sarawak coming in.
24:47So,
24:47we believe that
24:48there are certain
24:49key exposures
24:50if we expose them earlier,
24:52like Dato mentioned,
24:52certain key skill sets,
24:54they may not have
24:55gotten the right advice
24:56when they were younger.
24:57So,
24:58we believe that
24:58these mentors can,
25:00through their experience
25:01sharing,
25:01can inculcate
25:02these values to them.
25:03For example,
25:05things like integrity,
25:06like Dato mentioned,
25:07very important,
25:08hard work, etc.
25:09This is very transferable
25:10type of knowledge.
25:12Also,
25:12generally we looked at
25:13some skill sets
25:14including digitalisation,
25:16technology,
25:17these are very important
25:17for future employers.
25:19And also,
25:19just to share about
25:20ESG,
25:21about environment,
25:21social and governance,
25:23the early exposure
25:24to these students
25:26as well,
25:27to understand that
25:28there's a lot
25:29of new industries
25:30and jobs
25:30being created from here.
25:32So,
25:32I hope that answers
25:33your first question,
25:34Nabila.
25:35Second part
25:35about policy makers
25:36is I think we want
25:37to go back
25:38to facts and figures
25:39as a research institute,
25:40right?
25:41So,
25:41we are doing a survey,
25:42right,
25:42or extensive survey
25:43with all these universities
25:44and the students
25:45and also the employees
25:46at the same time.
25:46So,
25:47we intend to compile
25:48a summary report
25:49to be given
25:50to the Ministry
25:50of Economy
25:51and we believe
25:52this will assist
25:53policy makers,
25:54et cetera,
25:54to get feedback
25:55from the ground
25:55as well.
25:57Actual from the students
25:58themselves,
25:58from the universities
25:59themselves,
26:00and also that,
26:02rather than just data,
26:03the feedback is very direct
26:04as well to them.
26:06And we've come to
26:07the end of our session.
26:09Perhaps before we wrap up,
26:11maybe you can share
26:11what does the radar
26:12institute hope
26:13through this program,
26:14RYYI,
26:15will achieve beyond
26:17the three sessions
26:17in 2026.
26:18Perhaps you can start
26:19with Datuk first.
26:21Hopefully,
26:21it should become
26:22the pioneer,
26:23a platform
26:24to bridge the gap
26:25between the industry
26:27and the universities
26:29for the higher learning,
26:31actually.
26:32But we'd like to go
26:32even further
26:33to the schools,
26:33actually.
26:35from four,
26:36from five,
26:36to start the ball rolling
26:38earlier.
26:39And I believe
26:40that we should
26:42all of us,
26:43every Malaysian citizen,
26:45to start their
26:45working life earlier
26:47other than
26:48spend their time
26:49too long in universities
26:51or in learning.
26:52They should be able
26:53to work maybe 50%
26:55learning,
26:5550% application
26:57of what they learn
26:57in integration.
26:59In fact,
27:00some countries have done it,
27:01they have a gap year.
27:02But here we have also
27:03internship,
27:04like my company.
27:04We have interns
27:07almost every now and then.
27:08It's continuously
27:09interns.
27:10But they're
27:11three months,
27:11six months,
27:12but there's no
27:13follow-up.
27:14So what we would say
27:15is that everybody
27:16from four onwards
27:17or from five
27:18or even universities,
27:19they should be able
27:20to link
27:21to an industry,
27:22you know,
27:23where they can
27:24have a 24 hours
27:25or a regular
27:26feedback.
27:27They say
27:28they're in the real estate
27:29business
27:29or in the real estate
27:30profession.
27:31They maybe
27:32they got
27:33the valuer
27:34or the architecture.
27:35They can connect
27:36to any architect
27:37firm or whatever
27:37on the continuous basis.
27:39And I will
27:40appeal that
27:41all these industries
27:43maybe it's a waste
27:44of their time.
27:45I said,
27:45in fact,
27:46if I train
27:46these people out,
27:47you may not want
27:47to come and vote
27:48for me later.
27:48But it's your contribution.
27:50As you said,
27:51now,
27:51don't say what
27:52do you get
27:52from this
27:53internship,
27:54but what
27:55do you contribute?
27:56If you have
27:57a positive mind,
27:58I think it's
27:59very easy.
28:00So,
28:01basically,
28:01I came from a school
28:02where our motto
28:03is serve to lead
28:04Royal Ministry College.
28:06Our job is actually
28:06serve to lead,
28:08actually.
28:09So,
28:09if everybody
28:10have that in mind
28:11that your job
28:13is to serve
28:13and to lead,
28:14when we say
28:15leading,
28:16all the good
28:17characters lah,
28:18you know,
28:19in leading,
28:20not the bad ones lah.
28:22Okay,
28:23so I think
28:24you want to say
28:25how do you see
28:26this RIYI
28:27support Malaysia's
28:28long-term workforce
28:29and business?
28:30Yeah,
28:31so I think
28:31some of the key
28:32pointers,
28:33and I think
28:33just to emphasize
28:34what Datuk has mentioned
28:35is that
28:35practicality and real life.
28:37So,
28:37you know,
28:38for these university
28:38students need to be exposed
28:39as much and
28:40as early as possible,
28:42right?
28:42Even from their first year
28:43or even before,
28:44as Datuk mentioned.
28:45Right now,
28:45for REI,
28:45we have 50 students
28:46this year
28:47from 15 universities
28:48all throughout the country.
28:49So,
28:50we hope we can scale
28:51this program,
28:52right?
28:52Over time,
28:53hundreds of students
28:53to impact lives
28:54but I think
28:55one of the key things
28:56that Datuk mentioned
28:57about the industry
28:57is about the
28:58multiply effect.
29:00If this REI program,
29:01these mentors,
29:02right,
29:02could change
29:02these 50 people's lives,
29:04right,
29:04in that sense,
29:05in terms of their career,
29:06entrepreneurship,
29:07innovation,
29:07it can help other people
29:09as well.
29:09There's a multiply effect.
29:10So,
29:11we hope this will empower
29:12hundreds of university students
29:13and also all the universities
29:15in Malaysia,
29:16be it the public universities,
29:19private universities
29:19or colleges,
29:20et cetera.
29:20And we hope to roll it out.
29:22I mean,
29:22it can be a good platform
29:23for the country
29:24or for whichever
29:26organization as well
29:27that we are looking
29:28for support for
29:29as we're preparing
29:30for VE 2027.
29:32Amazing.
29:33And I wish both of you
29:33the best for RYYI
29:35and also as
29:36MNCP Press for
29:37Budget 2027,
29:39the conversation
29:39is no longer about
29:40simply creating
29:41employment opportunities.
29:42It's about also
29:43ensuring young Malaysians
29:44have the skills,
29:45mindset and also
29:46adaptability needed
29:47for a workforce
29:48that is increasingly
29:49shaped by technology,
29:51AI and evolving
29:52industry for demands.
29:53So, the challenge
29:54I hit and requires
29:55coordinated action
29:56from government,
29:57industry and also
29:58educational institutions
29:59at the same time.
30:00So, because ultimately
30:01Malaysia's competitiveness
30:02in the years ahead
30:03will depend on
30:04how effectively
30:05we prepare today's youth
30:06for tomorrow's economy.
30:08So, I would like
30:08to say thank you
30:09to Datuk Haji Musazza Muhammad
30:12and also David S. Chong,
30:14the Chief Operator
30:15Officer of Radar Institute
30:16and the Trustee
30:17of Radar Institute
30:18for taking the time
30:19to speak with me
30:20this morning.
30:21And that's all for today
30:22and you can find
30:22this whole discussion
30:23on all of our
30:24social media platforms
30:25and that includes
30:25astroawani.com.
30:26Thanks for watching.
30:33Bye.
30:34Bye.
30:36Bye.
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