EVERY dream begins with an opportunity. Through the Malaysian Indian Skills Initiative (MISI), the Indian community in Malaysia is being given a chance to acquire vocational training and employment opportunities for a new start in life.
MISI is not merely a programme but a bridge between potential and achievement, between dreams and reality.
Implemented through agencies such as HRD Corp and TalentCorp – two agencies under the Human Resources Ministry (KESUMA) – the initiative focuses on skills training, job opportunities and career development.
The true strength of MISI lay not in figures or performance reports but in the human success stories behind them. The programme helps develop technical skills as well as build confidence, dignity and a future for its participants.
From village girl to multinational company engineer
In the past, Yuemystra Veswalinggam has only heard of big names like Jabil on television.
A native of Kulim from a B40 family earning about RM2,500 a month, she struggled to find a job after graduation, especially with no experience and living far from the city.
Everything changed when she joined the MISI programme, which was established to help the Malaysian Indian community access training and employment opportunities.
Each day, Yuemystra travelled two hours by bus from Kulim to Penang to complete her Chip Manufacturing training; a sacrifice that paid off.
Today, she works as an EIT quality assurance engineer at renowned multinational company Jabil Circuit Sdn Bhd from the United States, earning RM3,550 a month.
“I used to think people like me didn’t deserve to work at big companies. But it turns out, if we try, nothing is impossible,” she said.
MISI helped Yuemystra elevate herself as an EIT QA engineer.
‘My first pay was for my mother’
After his father was injured in an accident and could no longer work, Pravin Raj Muralitharan knew he had to shoulder the family’s responsibilities.
“My mother worked alone. I saw how tired she was every day. At that time, I promised myself that I would help her,” he said.
As a young graduate, Pravin was unemployed for several months. But everything changed when he joined MISI, which helped him enrol in a software developer programme in information technology, an intensive training course that equipped him with real industry skills.
Soon after completing his training, Pravin secured a position as a software engineer at Dell Global Business Centre Sdn Bhd, earning RM5,100 a month.
“The day I got the job, I called my mother straight away. She cried, but this time it was tears of joy,” he said with a smile.
Today, Pravin not only supports his family but also stands as proof that the right opportunity and training can transform a person’s life.
MISI helped Pravin enrol in a software developer programme in information technology.
Building skills for a better future
After completing her degree in Information Technology at university, Ravithira Rajah, was unemployed for two months.
“Every day I wondered if I would ever find a job that matched what I studied,” she said.
Coming from a B40 family in Puchong, Selangor, with a household income of around RM2,000 to RM4,000 a month, the pressure on her to find work quickly was always there. But more than just finding a job, she wanted to build a career.
That opportunity came when she joined MISI. She enrolled in the Microsoft Full Stack Developer Programme organised by TalentCorp where she learnt programming languages and the skills to develop digital systems from basic to advanced levels. The training changed everything.
“Before this, I was afraid to apply for big jobs because I didn’t think I was good enough. After this programme, I’m confident I can compete,” she said.
Today she works as a Full Stack developer at Bestinet Sdn Bhd, earning RM4,700 a month, a remarkable achievement for a young graduate from a modest background.
For Ravithira, this success is not just about landing her first job, but about the courage to believe that every small beginning can lead to a greater destination.
Ravithira has managed to build up confidence and a career as a Full Stack developer with MISI.
Disability is no barrier to creativity
Since childhood, Kavinash Sri Murugan has lived in a world of silence. Born with hearing impairment, communication was never easy.
Yet behind that silence, he discovered another way to express himself, through photography and video.
“When I take photos or edit videos, I feel free,” he said with a gentle smile. “I can’t hear music, but I can ‘feel’ its rhythm through visuals.”
While his peers were searching for jobs after the pandemic, Kavinash joined MISI and took up a course in AI-Powered Photography and Visual Editing: Transforming Creativity with Advanced Tools and Techniques.
Through this course, he learnt to use artificial intelligence (AI) technology in photo and video editing, skills that now help him create content and build a career as a digital influencer.
For Kavinash, training in AI-based photography and visual editing opened a new chapter in his life. For the first time, he realised that his disability was not a limitation but a strength.
Today, Kavinash is gaining recognition as a digital influencer with a loyal following eager to see his creative work. More importantly, he has become an inspiration for many other young persons with disabilities who wish to build self-confidence.
“This training changed my life. I’m more confident, more independent, and I know I can succeed too,” he said proudly.
Thanks to MISI, Kavinash today is gaining recognition as a digital influencer with a loyal following.
‘Not just a fishing rod, but a speedboat’
Yuemystra, Pravin, Ravithira and Kavinash are among the 1,500 MISI 2.0 trainees for 2025 under HRD Corp and TalentCorp.
Supported by the government, MISI focuses on advanced skills training and job placements in strategic sectors such as electrical and electronics industries, information technology, AI and cybersecurity.
The majority of participants have secured their first jobs with starting salaries between RM2,000 and RM6,000.
Commenting on MISI, YB Steven Sim said: “The goal of MISI is to ensure that the skills training provided makes an impact and transforms lives. We are not just giving them a fishing rod but a speedboat so that they can continuously improve their standard of living.”
