ALOR GAJAH, 18 October 2026 – The Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) continues to strengthen its outreach efforts to employers and communities through the organisation of the HRD Corp ‘Pocket Talk’ Road Tour – From Policy to the People in Alor Gajah, Melaka.

Now in its sixth series, the programme provides a platform for direct communication and engagement to enhance employers’ and the public’s understanding of the various initiatives, facilities and support HRD Corp provides to develop the nation’s skills and workforce.

Officiated by the Minister of Human Resources, YB Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, the programme also provides opportunities for a two-way engagement between the Government, employers and communities to gather feedback and better understand their needs and challenges, particularly in training, upskilling and career development.

YB Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan said that outreach initiative such as the ‘Pocket Talk’ Road Tour is essential to ensuring that Government policies and initiatives are not only known to the public, but also understood and effectively utilised by their intended beneficiaries.

“Government policies and initiatives should not remain merely on paper. We want the public to be aware of the opportunities available, understand how to benefit from them, and see for themselves how these opportunities can help improve their skills, employment prospects and quality of life,” he said.

“At the same time, a programme like this provides the Government with an opportunity to listen directly to the needs and challenges faced by employers and the public. This feedback is important to ensure that skills development efforts continue to address the actual needs of communities and industries,” added YB Dato’ Sri Ramanan. 

In Melaka, a total of 2,867 employers have registered with HRD Corp, representing 133,171 employees. A total of 6,995 training grant applications have been approved, involving 39,489 training places, while 24,729 participants have received trainings to strengthen the skills and capabilities of the state’s workforce.

Meanwhile, HRD Corp Chief Executive, Dato’ Shamir Aziz, said that the ‘Pocket Talk’ Road Tour reflects HRD Corp’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its relationships with employers and communities, while ensuring that the facilities and training opportunities available are fully utilised.

“Through direct outreach initiatives like this, we want more employers and employees to understand the facilities and support available through HRD Corp. We also aim to encourage employers to view training as a long-term investment in developing a more skilled, productive and competitive workforce,” he said.

“Our priority is not merely to increase training participation, but to ensure that the training delivered is genuinely relevant to industry needs, can be applied in the workplace and adds value to employees’ career development,” he added.

The ‘Pocket Talk’ Road Tour is also part of HRD Corp’s ongoing efforts to expand access to learning opportunities and foster a culture of lifelong learning, building on the momentum of National Training Week (NTW) 2026.

In addition to engaging directly with employers and communities, these efforts are supported by the NTW portal, which continues to offer more than 8,000 free courses for Malaysians to enhance their knowledge and skills.

The HRD Corp ‘Pocket Talk’ Road Tour – From Policy to the People will continue to serve as a platform to strengthen communication and relationships between HRD Corp, employers and communities, while raising awareness of the importance of upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning in developing a competitive Malaysian workforce.