PERMATANG PAUH, 25 July 2026 – The Prime Minister, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Utama Anwar bin Ibrahim, today officiated the Kemuncak National Training Week (NTW) 2026, together with the Chief Minister of Penang, Yang Amat Berhormat Chow Kon Yeow, and the Minister of Human Resources, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, further reinforcing the MADANI Government’s commitment to fostering a culture of lifelong learning while ensuring that every Malaysian has access to quality upskilling opportunities.

The event, held at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Penang Branch, Permatang Pauh Campus, was also attended by the Deputy Chief Minister I of Penang, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Dr. Mohamad bin Abdul Hamid; the Secretary General of the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), Datuk Azman bin Mohd Yusof; the Chairman of the Board of Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), Datuk Rusli bin Jaafar; and the Chief Executive of HRD Corp, Dato’ Shamir bin Aziz. More than 12,000 participants and visitors comprising training providers, educational institutions, employers, industry players, government agencies, students and various stakeholders gathered to further strengthen the nation’s talent development and skills enhancement ecosystem.

Now in its fourth year, NTW continues to demonstrate the commitment of HRD Corp, together with KESUMA, in making learning a way of life for Malaysians.

Carrying the theme ‘Learn. Grow. Elevate.’, NTW provides free access to thousands of training and skills development opportunities for all Malaysians regardless of age, background or location.

As of 24 July 2026, NTW 2026 has recorded 8,682 courses offered by 1,619 course providers, with 674,818 participations recorded nationwide. This achievement reflects the overwhelming response from Malaysians towards the culture of lifelong learning as well as the commitment of various stakeholders in expanding access to quality training.

Participation in NTW 2026 also reflects the inclusiveness of the initiative, with the youngest participant aged three and the oldest participant aged 89, proving that lifelong learning is truly accessible to all Malaysians.

Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, said in his speech that a nation’s greatest and most valuable asset is not its natural resources, but its human capital.

“If Malaysia is to achieve greater success and continue creating prosperity for its people, the country must be proactive in ensuring that Malaysians are continuously given opportunities to enhance their existing skills and acquire new ones so that they remain relevant in today’s and tomorrow’s economy.

“To ensure that initiatives such as this are implemented effectively, we need institutions that are trustworthy, strong and possess expertise in national talent development. This is where HRD Corp plays a critical role as the institution entrusted with leading the nation’s talent and human capital development with integrity and responsibility,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dato’ Shamir Aziz, said that NTW 2026’s achievements reflect the success of collective efforts in expanding access to quality learning and embedding a culture of lifelong learning among Malaysians.

“As of 24 July 2026, nearly 675,000 participations have been recorded through more than 8,600 courses offered by over 1,600 training providers nationwide. This encouraging response reflects Malaysians’ strong desire to continue learning, as well as the unwavering commitment of the government, industry and training providers in cultivating a culture of lifelong learning. HRD Corp will continue strengthening strategic collaborations with all stakeholders to ensure that opportunities for skills enhancement remain accessible to all Malaysians, not only during NTW but throughout the year,” said Dato’ Shamir.

Throughout NTW 2026, which takes place from 20 to 26 July, Malaysians have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of physical, online and hybrid training programmes covering digital skills, technology, AI proficiency, entrepreneurship, TVET, finance, creativity, personal development and many other fields that address the needs of today’s and future’s economy.

The two-day Kemuncak NTW 2026 also features interactive exhibitions, technology demonstrations, skills workshops, learning activities, as well as participation from various ministries, government agencies, educational institutions and industry partners, all working together to support the national human capital development agenda.

The highlight of the event will also feature the flag-off of the Learn-A-Thon run on the second day at UiTM Penang, Permatang Pauh Campus, involving the participation of 3,500 runners as a symbol of the collective commitment to cultivating a culture of lifelong learning and expanding access to skills development opportunities among Malaysians.

Although NTW runs for one week, Malaysians can continue to access various free training opportunities throughout the year via the official NTW portal, which brings together courses offered by hundreds of training providers nationwide.

This initiative ensures that opportunities to enhance skills remain open to everyone, in line with the aspirations of KESUMA and HRD Corp to develop a more skilled, competitive and future-ready workforce.