Cooking Up Success: How MISI Helps Build Your Career

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA 16 February 2025– The Malaysian Indian Skills Initiative (MISI) is proving that with the right training and opportunity, individuals can build a successful career, regardless of their background. One such success story is Kumaresan, an 18-year-old graduate of MISI, who has turned his passion for cooking into a stable career.

Coming from a humble background, Kumaresan never imagined that his love for cooking could lead to immediate employment. However, after completing the MISI competency programme in Culinary Arts – Western Food in Perai, Penang, he secured a culinary position at a prestigious restaurant, earning a stable salary that far exceeded his expectations.

“I’m so grateful for this initiative by Kerajaan Madani. I never imagined I could earn this much at 18. Now I can help my family with what I earn,” said Kumaresan.

His success highlights the impact of competency-based training programmes. While many of his peers are still searching for stable jobs, Kumaresan’s achievement demonstrates that with the right skills, career opportunities are within reach.

“People say it’s hard to get a job now, but I proved them wrong. With a MISI competency programme, you can secure a job easily – and with a good salary. Thank you, Kerajaan Madani!” he added.

Held from December 4 to 8, 2024, the five-day intensive training programme was designed to equip participants with valuable culinary skills and empower them with sustainable income opportunities in the food industry. The programme catered to a diverse group, including school leavers, homemakers, eatery owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to upskill or reskill.

The initiative has received strong support from YB Dato’ Seri Sundarajoo Somu, Penang State Government EXCO & ADUN Perai, who attended a training session in his constituency. His presence reinforced the importance of skills-based training, and he expressed his appreciation to YB Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of Human Resources, for his dedication to empowering communities through the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) initiative.

Under YB Steven Sim’s leadership, MISI has made it its primary mission to uplift the Malaysian Indian community through upskilling and reskilling in high-demand industries. Since its launch in November 2024, MISI’s first phase has already implemented more than 100 training programmes, benefiting over 6,000 Malaysian Indians to date.

MISI was officially announced by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a special Labour Day interview on May 1, 2024. In his announcement, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering the Malaysian Indian community, unveiling a RM30 million funding pledge from KESUMA, MITRA, and the Ministry of Finance to drive the initiative forward.

By September 2024, MISI launched its inaugural Phase 1, focusing on technical, vocational, and skills-based training to equip individuals with industry-relevant expertise. The initiative offers a diverse array of training courses, covering cutting-edge and high-demand fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Smart Farming, Cybersecurity, Drone Technology, Retort Technology, Superbike Maintenance, EV Maintenance, Data Science, and more.

With each success story like Kumaresan’s, MISI continues to change lives – one skill, one opportunity, and one dream at a time.