Latest news with #SyedHussain
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Shell LiveWire celebrates five innovative enterprises in Peninsular Malaysia
Syed Hussain (back row, second from right), in a group photo with the judges, Shell representatives and the Shell LiveWire Malaysia 2025 Peninsular Malaysia winners. KUALA LUMPUR: In a pursuit to empower innovation and entrepreneurship, Shell awarded five enterprises as state winners of Shell LiveWire Malaysia at the Peninsular Malaysia challenge at Wisma Shell in Cyberjaya. This marks the fourth year of Shell's ongoing mission to support and elevate local business talent. After competing against over 60 participants in this year's Peninsular Malaysia edition of the programme, Earnest Grower Sdn Bhd, Lorry System Sdn Bhd, Mensilin Green Energy Sdn Bhd, Midwest Composites Sdn Bhd and Rebooz Technology Sdn Bhd emerged as the top five winners. Their journey began with an intensive bootcamp designed to enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities. From there, 10 promising finalists were shortlisted for the final pitching round, where they delivered compelling business plans and demonstrated strong potential for innovation and growth. Following a rigorous evaluation process, five enterprises that truly stood out were selected as this year's champions. 'Shell LiveWire is more than just a programme, it's a journey that inspires aspiring entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life,' said Shell business operations (Kuala Lumpur) general manager Syed Hussain Taha. 'Having witnessed the passion and resilience of our local talents, I truly believe in the impact this initiative can make. 'It empowers individuals to create lasting businesses that not only support their own growth but also uplift communities and generate meaningful employment. I personally encourage all budding entrepreneurs to take part in this programme, which offers the guidance, tools and support needed to turn dreams into reality.' Each of the five winning enterprises received a RM10,000 startup grant from Shell, along with a year-long business coaching programme to help refine their strategies and scale their ventures. In addition, the winners also gain access to the global LiveWire network — an international community of entrepreneurs — where they can exchange ideas, share experiences and potentially be selected for the prestigious Shell Global Top Ten Innovators Awards. The judges for Shell LiveWire Malaysia 2025 Peninsular Malaysia state finals were Cyberview Sdn Bhd Ecosystem Hub head and Futurise Sdn Bhd acting chief executive officer Shafinaz Salim; New Straits Times Business Times news editor Muhammed Ahmad Hamdan and Shell Malaysia Global Alliance manager Theswinder Kaur. Shell LiveWire is the flagship enterprise development programme of Shell. The programme strengthens local economies across the globe by promoting entrepreneurship and developing entrepreneurs. This programme, which kick started in Sabah in 2015, in Sarawak in 2016 and in Peninsular Malaysia in 2022, aims to inspire young entrepreneurs to innovate and produce real business solutions that meet today's socio-economic needs. To learn more on Shell LiveWire Malaysia, click here.
The Star
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
‘M'sia gains when refugees work'
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia stands to benefit economically and resolve workforce gaps by enabling refugees and asylum seekers to work under a formal framework, says the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF). Its president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said that currently, 185,000 refugees and asylum seekers reside in Malaysia, the majority of whom are of working age and physically able to contribute to the economy. 'At present, refugees and asylum seekers face legal and practical barriers to formal employment, despite having the skills, willingness and potential to contribute positively to the Malaysian economy. 'MEF believes that, if managed strategically and humanely, the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the formal labour market will positively help address several pressing national challenges, particularly in sectors facing acute labour shortages such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and care services,' he said in a statement yesterday. Syed Hussain said one way to revitalise the economy is by granting work access to those registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia. 'This will not only provide them with the opportunity to recover from the trauma of war, conflict and persecution, but also allow them to contribute to Malaysia's economic growth, with clear benefits to businesses and consumers,' he added. He said MEF believes formalising refugee employment will bring tangible benefits, including supporting Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth through labour output, consumption, taxation and entrepreneurship. Syed Hussain said it could also reduce exploitation and illegal hiring practices by promoting labour compliance, as well as saving time and costs for employers by tapping into a workforce already present in the country. He pointed to a joint study by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNHCR where they found that enabling refugees to work could increase a country's GDP by up to 0.5% over time. 'Even if 30% to 40% of the refugee and asylum seeker population is granted access to the formal job market, this could add 55,000 to 75,000 employees to Malaysia's labour force, boosting productivity and supporting national economic growth,' he said. Syed Hussain said this approach would not displace local workers, especially in 3D jobs (dirty, dangerous and difficult) that are typically shunned by Malaysians. 'It would reduce dependency on foreign workers and cut enforcement costs associated with illegal labour,' he said. Syed Hussain added that the move would also strengthen Malaysia's international standing on human rights and align with global standards such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and environmental, social and governance (ESG) expectations. 'MEF is calling on the government to collaborate with employers, trade unions, NGOs and international bodies to develop a clear, transparent policy framework that defines legal work status, outlines obligations and rights, integrates skills recognition and includes proper vetting and monitoring mechanisms. 'MEF believes the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers into Malaysia's formal workforce is a win-win strategy; one that strengthens economic resilience, meets business needs and upholds Malaysia's humanitarian commitments,' he said.
New Straits Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
MEF: Let refugees work in formal sector
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) wants the government to allow refugees and asylum seekers to work in the formal sector under a structured and safeguarded framework. Its president, Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman, said such access would not only support Malaysia's economic growth, but also benefit businesses and consumers, while offering displaced individuals to recover from home countries conflict. He said this move could help curb exploitation, underpayment and illegal hiring, while enhancing governance and labour law compliance. "MEF believes that one of the ways to help revitalise the national economy is to grant access to formal work for refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia. "MEF therefore urges the government to allow refugees and asylum seekers to work in the formal sector in Malaysia," he said in a statement today. Syed Hussain said Malaysia currently hosts more than 185,000 refugees and asylum seekers, most of whom are of working age and physically able At present, he said, refugees and asylum seekers face legal and practical barriers to formal employment, despite having the skills, willingness and potential to contribute positively to the Malaysian economy. "MEF believes that, if managed strategically and humanely, the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the formal labour market will positively help address several pressing national challenges. "This is particularly in sectors facing acute labour shortages such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and care services." He cited a study by the International Labour Organisation and UNHCR, which found that enabling refugees to work could raise a country's gross domestic product by up to 0.5 per cent over time. "If even 30 to 40 per cent of the refugee and asylum seeker population is granted access to the formal job market, this could add 55,000 to 75,000 employees to Malaysia's labour force, boosting productivity and supporting national economic growth." Among the advantages of employing them are easing worker shortages in sectors shunned by locals, such as 3D (dirty, dangerous, difficult) jobs, reducing reliance on foreign workers and enhancing Malaysia's global reputation for respecting human rights. "MEF is calling on the government to collaborate with employers, trade unions, non-governmental organisations and international bodies to develop a clear policy framework that defines legal work status and permits, outlines employer obligations and rights and integrates skills recognition to ensure productive placement.
The Star
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Giving refugees the right to work a win-win for Malaysia, says MEF
PETALING JAYA: Allowing refugees and asylum seekers to work under a regulated framework could help address labour shortages and boost Malaysia's economy, says the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF). Its president, Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman, said over 185,000 refugees and asylum seekers currently reside in the country, most of whom are of working age and physically capable of contributing to the economy. 'Despite having the skills, willingness and potential to contribute, they face legal and practical barriers to formal employment,' he said in a statement on Sunday (June 22). "MEF believes that, if managed strategically and humanely, the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the formal labour market will positively help address several pressing national challenges, particularly in sectors facing acute labour shortages such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and care services." Syed Hussain proposed allowing those registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to be granted formal work access in Malaysia. 'This will not only provide them with the opportunity to recover from the trauma of war, conflict and persecution, but also allow them to contribute to Malaysia's economic growth, with clear benefits to businesses and consumers,' he added. He said MEF believes formalising refugee employment could support GDP growth through increased labour output, consumption, taxation and entrepreneurship. It could also reduce exploitation and illegal hiring by promoting compliance with labour laws, while saving employers time and recruitment costs by tapping into an existing workforce, said Syed Hussain. He cited a joint study by the International Labour Organization and UNHCR, which found that enabling refugees to work could raise a country's GDP by up to 0.5% over time. 'If even 30 to 40% of the refugee and asylum seeker population is granted access to the formal job market, this could add 55,000 to 75,000 employees to Malaysia's labour force, boosting productivity and supporting national economic growth,' he said. Syed Hussain stressed that this would not displace local workers, especially in 3D jobs (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) typically shunned by Malaysians. 'It would reduce dependency on foreign workers and cut enforcement costs associated with illegal labour,' he said. Syed Hussain said this move would also strengthen Malaysia's international standing on human rights and align with global standards such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and ESG expectations. 'MEF is calling on the government to collaborate with employers, trade unions, NGOs and international bodies to develop a clear, transparent policy framework that defines legal work status, outlines obligations and rights, integrates skills recognition and includes proper vetting and monitoring mechanisms. 'MEF believes the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers into Malaysia's formal workforce is a win-win strategy - one that strengthens economic resilience, meets business needs and upholds Malaysia's humanitarian commitments,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
20-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Close structural gaps to achieve economic goals, govt told
Malaysia has become the world's 23rd most competitive economy, according to an international ranking, rising 11 places from last year. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA : For businesses and employers, addressing structural problems and inadequacies must be front and centre in any effort to take the Malaysian economy to the next level. As the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) and Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (Samenta) pointed out, challenges such as the shortage of talent and too much red tape must be sorted out before the country can achieve its goal to be among the world's top 12 economies by 2033. Syed Hussain Syed Husman. MEF president Syed Hussain Syed Husman said Malaysia continues to face structural gaps in multiple areas. 'We are weak in innovation, the talent pool in artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics is shallow, and we are slow in adopting automation and cybersecurity,' he told FMT. He also pointed out that there is a persistent mismatch between the skills that graduates have acquired at university and what industry actually needs. 'We must tackle these issues now if we are serious about competing with the world's best,' he said. In its World Competitiveness Ranking 2025 list released this week, the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has placed Malaysia at number 23, up 11 places from the previous year. The 69 countries covered in the IMD survey were evaluated in five key strategic focus areas, namely workforce development, digital and AI adoption, private sector-led research and development (R&D), regulatory reforms, and supply chain resilience. Switzerland tops the list, followed by Singapore, with Hong Kong rounding off the top three. Elaborating on the failure of the education system to produce graduates who can meet industry needs, Syed Hussain said many training modules are now outdated, having failed to keep up with the demands of fast-evolving sectors. He singled out fast-moving sectors such as AI, cybersecurity, fintech, renewable energy and e-commerce as those sectors that are affected. He attributed this to 'insufficient employer involvement' in technical and vocational education and training as well as the Human Resource Development Corporation training programmes. 'The skills development ecosystem is also fragmented across ministries and agencies,' he added. As a result, he said, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) continue to struggle with automation due to high upfront costs and limited awareness of return on investment. On digital transformation, Syed Hussain said businesses outside urban centres still face barriers such as poor access to high-speed internet and 5G networks. At the same time, the talent pool in AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity remains limited. 'Malaysia faces a persistent gap in high-demand tech areas, leading to a dependence on foreign expertise,' he said. He said R&D in Malaysia is also largely driven by the government, with low commercial returns posing a deterrent to private sector involvement. Syed Hussain added that Malaysia's reliance on low-margin manufacturing makes it vulnerable to global trade shocks. 'Many local firms lack the scale, certification or access to financing needed to break into foreign markets,' he said, adding that a logistics infrastructure was needed to diversify trade. Reforms working but must be sustained Samenta chairman William Ng said that while he welcomed the country's improved standing in the IMD ranking, he also stressed that this is not the time to be complacent. William Ng. He said consistent policies, improved R&D support, and greater private sector participation are needed for Malaysia to break into the ranks of the world's top 12 economies by 2033. Ng credited recent initiatives such as the Reformasi Kerenah Birokrasi (RKB) and the creation of the Business Efficiency Task Force for contributing to the positive momentum. However, he warned that longstanding challenges remain, especially on ensuring that national policies are not frequently changed and reducing red tape for firms to do business. Ng said Malaysia's improved position ahead of Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines signals that reforms are working, but they must be sustained and supported through a whole-of-nation approach. 'The government alone cannot effect these reforms. Businesses, including our SMEs, must move up the value chain for Malaysia to become even more competitive and to future-proof our economy for generations to come,' he added.
