SOME 500 jobs will be offered to army veterans following the launch of Veteran MyWIRA today by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong and Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari.
This collaborative effort, spearheaded by the Ministry of Human Resources agency, TalentCorp, and the Ministry of Defence’s Ex-Service Affairs Corporation (PERHEBAT), aims to pave the way for sustainable post-retirement careers and upskilling tailored to the market demands and expertise of the army veterans.
As a pilot programme, Veteran MyWira, launched at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Bayan Lepas, offers quality jobs from participating industrial members, with wages ranging from RM2,900 to RM4,200.
“Our army veterans possess valuable expertise with specific, immediately applicable skills required in sectors such as Electrical and Electronics (E&E) and aeronautics.
“Their structured lifestyles in the military have instilled in them a high degree of discipline, professionalism, and commitment. This represents the qualities that employers highly sought after,” Sim said in his speech during the launch.
He added that the Veteran MyWira would enable veterans to upskill in alignment with market demands and facilitate a seamless transition to the private sector.
“This initiative empowers them to make substantial contributions to the nation’s economy, improve their employability, and elevate their overall quality of life, embodying the principle of ensuring that ‘no one gets left behind,” Sim emphasised.
He concluded by saying that if the pilot initiative is proven successful, they will increase job offers from 500 to 5,000, ensuring veterans secure job opportunities in the upcoming years.
Focusing primarily on industries and employment within the private sector, Veteran MyWIRA will be led by Micron Memory Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a prominent player in the nation’s semiconductor ecosystem and chip manufacturing.
As a result, 25 to 50 (out of the 500) quality jobs will be offered by Micron to army veterans beginning March 2024. Not to mention, providing on-job-training for veterans.
These job opportunities encompass roles for engineers, supervisors, and technicians, showcasing Micron’s dedication to offering diverse employment prospects within their organisation for army veterans.
Commenting on the mechanism that enables this initiative, TalentCorp’s Group chief executive officer Thomas Matthew said that Veteran MyWira leverages on TalentCorp’s existing initiatives, including the mynext TVET and Future Skills Talent Council in partnership with industry stakeholders.
“As such the approach involves profiling and upskilling army veterans, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to the workforce and providing diversity to the private sector workforce,” Matthew said.
Adly said more than 3,000 army veterans, aged 32 to 40, would benefit from this initiative.
“This initiative can make a meaningful impact on their lives, empowering them to navigate the challenges of retirement with dignity and resilience,” Adly added.
Meanwhile, an exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TalentCorp and PERHEBAT was witnessed by both Sim and Adly.
Also present were Ministry of Human Resources deputy chief secretary (Operations) Datuk Norison Ramli, Ministry of Defence deputy chief secretary (Operations) Datin Roszanina Wahab, PERHEBAT acting deputy director, Captain (Retired) Mohd Radzi Mohd Ali, the Army’s Infantry Division 2 commander Major General Azhan Md Othman, and Vice-President of Micron Malaysia Ramu Iyer
Story by Norman Sim
Pix by Darwina Mohd. Daud