By: Datuk Wira Shahul Hameed, Advisor to ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025
KUALA LUMPUR – What began as a humble conversation in Penang in 2023 has since grown into a national and regional movement that is transforming the landscape of human capital development across ASEAN.
The National Training Week (NTW), once met with doubt and scepticism, today stands as one of Malaysia’s most impactful initiatives, offering lifelong learning opportunities to people from all walks of life.
When we first proposed the idea of a dedicated week where all Malaysians could access free training and learning opportunities, many questioned whether it was feasible. Some dismissed it as overly ambitious.
Others doubted its scale, reach, and long-term impact. But despite the doubts, we pressed forward because we believed in a simple truth: skills development is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
We envisioned a Malaysia where learning never stops, where access to quality training is not reserved for a privileged few, and where every citizen regardless of background, age or income level is empowered to grow. And we made that vision a reality.
The turning point came when YAB Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim officially launched NTW 2024, a move that sent a powerful message to the nation: that the Government prioritises human capital development as the core of national progress.
The Prime Minister’s continued support, once again demonstrated on 14 June 2025 at the NTW 2025 launch in Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil, reflects Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to inclusive, people-first policies.
But NTW is no longer just Malaysia’s pride. On 27 May 2025, Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim Chee Keong announced that access to NTW’s digital platform www.nationaltrainingweek.gov.my would be extended to all ASEAN Member States (AMS).
This pivotal move aligns NTW with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 and makes it a flagship initiative under the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025.
NTW has now evolved into a regional learning movement, accelerating cross-border collaboration, uplifting underserved communities and uniting ASEAN under a shared vision of lifelong learning.
Unprecedented Impact, Real Numbers
The measurable success of NTW is astounding:
• NTW 2023: 503,572 training hours, estimated value RM116 million
• NTW 2024: 1,027,911 training hours, estimated value RM323 million
• NTW 2025 (as of 14 June): 10,424,808 training hours, estimated value RM485 million
Without NTW, these hours would have been lost opportunities. The cost of delivering such widespread training through traditional models would be overwhelming. NTW, through its digital-first, inclusive approach, has proven to be a scalable, cost-effective solution for national and regional upskilling.
It reaches across rural communities, urban centres, underprivileged groups, persons with disabilities, retirees, students, and micro-entrepreneurs no one is left behind.
The design of NTW is not only deliberate and inclusive, but also globally recognised. International bodies such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) and various AMS governments have praised NTW as a best practice in inclusive human capital development.
Learning that Moves the Nation
One of the highlights of this year’s NTW was the Learn-a-Thon Explorace, held on 15 June 2025, which attracted over 6,000 participants at Bukit Jalil Stadium.
This unique initiative combined physical activity with interactive learning checkpoints turning a 5km fun run into an experience of education, energy, and community spirit. It reflects what NTW is truly about: making learning accessible, engaging and unforgettable.
Led by the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) through its agency HRD Corp, NTW is a people-first initiative rooted in purpose, powered by partnership, and driven by results. It has demonstrated that when government, industry and the rakyat come together with shared purpose, the impact is transformative.
As Advisor to ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, I am proud to witness how NTW has become a model not just for Malaysia, but for the entire ASEAN region. NTW shows that when learning is democratised, communities are empowered, industries are strengthened, and nations thrive.
A Call to Honour a National Legacy
With three successful years behind us, I now humbly call upon the Government of Malaysia to officially gazette NTW as Malaysia’s National Learning and Development Week to be observed annually during the final week of June. Let it be etched in our national calendar as a lasting legacy of Malaysia’s commitment to lifelong learning.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his vision, support and belief in this journey. To YB Minister Steven Sim, thank you for championing this cause even when the road was uncertain. Your leadership has turned an idea into a national movement.
To our partners, trainers, employers, learning providers and every Malaysian who joined hands in this journey you are the heartbeat of NTW. Your participation is what gives this platform meaning.
And finally, to the exceptional team at HRD Corp thank you for your passion, perseverance and purpose. You are true #HRDCorpHeroes. Keep raising the bar, and let Malaysia continue leading the region through the power of knowledge, compassion, and skills for all. -MalayaDailyToday
