Kuala Lumpur: The Human Resources Ministry (KESUMA) is finalising a strategic collaboration with the Penang government to strengthen the local talent pipeline by producing more engineers through the Penang Chip Design Academy (PCDA). Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong highlighted that the academy, which was established by the state government, is aimed at advancing Penang’s semiconductor and high-tech sectors, with KESUMA prepared to add value to this significant initiative.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the PCDA was created to develop human capital, focusing on young people and workers for the semiconductor and high-tech industries. Minister Sim emphasized KESUMA’s interest in exploring how they can support the state’s skill training programmes to drive this sector forward. He made these remarks during the launch of the National Training Week (NTW) 2025 Northern Region roadshow.
The Penang government launched the academy last year as part of its efforts to strengthen integrated circuit (IC) design and digital development. This aligns with the state’s plans to build a thriving IC design ecosystem and establish Penang as a digital economy hub.
Sim also announced a strategic partnership between the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) under the Advanced Technology Meister Programme (ATMP). Through this initiative, a matching grant programme is being introduced to help local industries enhance workforce skills in advanced technology, he explained.
Employers will have the opportunity to co-develop training programmes with learning institutions of their choice, supported by funding from both HRD Corp via its levy system and NCIA under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12). Sim stated that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to building a highly skilled workforce and achieving the national target of 30 per cent skilled labour by 2030.
In a separate announcement, KESUMA also approved the implementation of a skills enhancement programme under the Focused Impact Training Initiative (FITI) for fishing families and local communities in South Penang. The programme aims to benefit 420 participants through courses such as helmsman training, site safety supervision, computer applications, and safety officer certification. Sim stressed that the goal is to ensure that the fishing community is not left behind in the economic progress brought by projects like Silicon Island.