The opening ceremony of National Training Week (NTW) 2025 was held on Saturday, June 14, at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

KUALA LUMPUR – More than two million Malaysians have taken part in National Training Week (NTW) 2025, setting a remarkable benchmark for the nationwide learning initiative.

Organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), the Opening Ceremony of NTW 2025 was held on Saturday, June 14, at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, in conjunction with the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) and Malaysia’s Chairmanship of Asean in 2025.

As the second flagship platform under the AYOS 2025 initiative, themed “Learning Beyond Borders” NTW 2025 aims to expand its reach across the Asean region.

The programme offers more than 65,000 free training courses and targets five million participants in total, in an effort to promote inclusive and accessible learning across Southeast Asia.

Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong during his welcoming speech on Saturday at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong stated that this year marks the third year of the national workforce development initiative, and the expectations have grown significantly following previous successes.

"Last year, we saw around 300,000 Malaysians participate in just one week.

"This year, at the official launch alone, we’ve not only met that target, we've exceeded it, with over 2 million Malaysians taking part in training courses offered nationwide," he said in his welcoming address at Bukit Jalil Stadium.

Sim added that the programme will continue to expand, with plans to involve more workers and extend the benefits to even more Malaysians.

The goal is to cultivate a culture of continuous upskilling and skills maintenance among the workforce.

Preparing educators for the AI era

To enhance the national skills framework in line with Industry 4.0, Sim announced a collaboration between the Human Resources Ministry (Kesuma) and the Education Ministry.

"Through the AI for Educators programme, nearly 400,000 teachers across the country will be trained in the use of artificial intelligence for teaching," he added.

The training will go beyond technical skills to include key areas such as AI ethics, ensuring educators are equipped to meet the demands of the AI era. He said this reflects not just Kesuma’s commitment, but the government's broader aim to prepare teachers with future-ready skills to help shape a resilient Malaysian workforce.

Moving beyond low-cost models for economic growth

Sim also noted Malaysia’s growing role in the global tech sector, contributing about 13 per cent of global semiconductor output and 7 per cent of revenue, backed by a skilled, multilingual talent pool. However, he warned that the country must shift away from outdated models based on cheap labour and low-cost production.

"For the past 50 years, our economy has largely depended on a mass-production manufacturing model. While this helped pull us out of poverty, it is no longer sustainable. We must not remain a low-cost hub that only offers cheap labour, utilities, and subsidies,” he said.

He warned that Malaysia risks being stuck in a stagnant, low-cost economic model if it doesn’t adapt. To address this, the government launched the Madani Economy Framework three years ago, aiming for high-value, high-growth development.

Sim pointed out that nearly RM10 billion in private investment has supported worker training. Building on this, Kesuma launched strategies to expand access to these benefits. A national report on AI, digitalisation, and the green economy led to a new skills portal to guide job matching and skills development.

“We’ve already seen results. In the first year of implementation, participants from our training programmes are earning an average of 12 per cent higher salaries than the market average upon graduation, “ he added.

The event was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In his address, Anwar emphasised the urgent need for thousands of trainers and tens of thousands of skilled workers across various sectors, not only in technical fields, but also in emerging and interdisciplinary areas.

He stressed the importance of going beyond just digital skills, saying that training must be broadened to include a wider range of expertise.

Anwar highlighted the crucial role that government agencies across the country must play in reshaping the national workforce.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivering his keynote address on Saturday at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Adapting to global demands and future industries

He said Malaysia had reached a point where the training models used for low- and mid-level industries must be overhauled. Young people, he added, need to be trained in new and emerging fields.

“We need to break this down into clear steps and introduce new policies that define what digital transformation and AI actually mean,” he said.

He pointed to the semiconductor industry as a key area that will help meet the demands of the future economy.

Energy transition, Anwar noted, is another challenge that depends heavily on the strength of the country’s training systems.

He recalled speaking previously about how major global players are entering Malaysia’s semiconductor sector, which is now seen as a central hub for Asean. Many of the companies operating in Indonesia are actually headquartered in Malaysia, he said.

However, Anwar warned that upskilling and reskilling efforts cannot rely solely on traditional education models.

“Teachers must be exposed to current developments, and our students need deeper, more relevant knowledge.

“Without this, we risk a disconnect between what’s being taught and the needs of the job market,” he said.

He also spoke about the changing perception of TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) programmes. In the past, he noted, these programmes were often seen as a last resort for academically weaker students. But now, things are different.

“Today, nearly half a million students are enrolled in TVET programmes across various ministries. Applications have increased, including from high-achieving students, over 40,000 of them,” Anwar said.

This shift, he argued, proves that the problem doesn’t lie with the students or their families, but with policymakers and those responsible for implementation.

Anwar stressed the importance of providing young people with genuine opportunities, guidance, and confidence.

“When the training system is better managed, with proper governance, accountability, and free from corruption or wastage, we can focus on what really matters: equipping disciplined, hardworking students to succeed,” he said.

He also spoke about the need to improve wages, particularly for lower-paid workers.

According to Anwar, workers must be rewarded fairly for additional training and increased productivity.

“We can’t keep expecting people to work harder, produce more, and still accept low wages. That model must change,” he said.

Turning to public sector workers, Anwar announced that the government has approved the largest civil service pay rise in the nation’s history, particularly for those in lower grades.

“This is only the beginning.

“This year alone, we’re allocating an additional RM13 billion, and in 2026, that figure will rise to RM18 billion.

Building Malaysia’s global reputation through skills development

Anwar also reminded the younger generation of their responsibility in shaping the future. He said that Malaysia’s economic direction is built on the need to embrace new knowledge and disciplines.

He cited the fact that 60 per cent of Malaysia’s semiconductor exports to the United States come from one industrial segment alone, showing how deeply integrated the country is in the global tech supply chain.

While he highlighted the need to focus on upskilling, reskilling, digitalisation, AI, and energy transition, Anwar also issued a reminder not to lose sight of national identity.

“We must never forget who we are, our culture, our values, our young people who are proud of their heritage and know their history.

“They must still be able to pursue knowledge and innovation,” he said.

In addition to officiating the launch, he also visited the exhibition space and took part in the presentation of certificates to selected participants.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong visited the exhibition space on Saturday at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Following the ceremony, Anwar visited the exhibition area and participated in the presentation of training certificates to selected participants.

Reflecting on the journey so far, NTW 2024, held from 24 to 30 June the previous year, was hailed as a major success. It offered more than 60,000 free courses and attracted over 375,000 participants, with 1,027,911 hours of training delivered, far exceeding its original goal of 150,000 participants.

The initiative focused on five main areas: life skills, future skills, creativity and innovation, financial literacy, and sustainable development.

NTW 2024 was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records for the largest lifelong learning programme, the longest non-stop human resource training webinar, and the longest non-stop online workshop.

The NTW portal remains active and continues to offer free training opportunities to Malaysians and other Southeast Asians. The initiative is dedicated to ensuring inclusive, accessible, and high-impact learning for all.

The main opening ceremony took place on June 14 and 15 at Bukit Jalil Stadium, with the closing ceremony to be held on June 21 at the Ipoh Convention Centre in Perak. The programme will run nationwide from to June 14 to 21 2025.

Organisers are targeting one million enrolments, more than 65,000 courses, and at least 1,000 impactful learning and development activities throughout the week.

Programmes will include short-term personal development sessions in areas such as training, coaching, facilitation, and applied learning. These will be delivered in a range of formats, including in-person sessions, live online classes, self-paced e-learning, hybrid modules, and one-on-one coaching.

National Training Week continues to grow as a transformative platform for learning, supporting Malaysia’s mission to develop a skilled, resilient, and future-ready workforce, both at home and across the Asean region.