YAYASAN PENERAJU UNVEILS NEW BASIC PACKAGE TO ACCELERATE BUMIPUTERA AI UPSKILLING

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Yayasan Peneraju (YP) is introducing the latest addition to its financing scheme, the ‘Basic Package’, available from Jan 9, 2026, aimed at accelerating Bumiputera upskilling in artificial intelligence (AI) training.

In a statement today, the talent bank agency under the Ministry of Economy said the basic package complements YP’s existing silver, gold and platinum packages, which have been offered since February 2025.

“Designed to lower barriers to entry for upskilling and reskilling talents, the basic package allows eligible applicants to apply for up to RM5,000 in interest-free financing, with zero administrative fees and no repayment upon successful completion of the training. This approach supports wider participation as workplace skill requirements continue to evolve.

“Launching with a focus on introducing AI training, YP’s first basic package supports efforts to accelerate AI adoption across industries, in line with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s 2026 New Year’s address,” he said.

YP chief executive officer Ibrahim Sani said that a study estimates that around 620,000 jobs in Malaysia could be highly impacted by AI, digitalisation and the green economy over the next three to five years, making upskilling and reskilling an urgent priority.

“As the Prime Minister has emphasised, if managed well, AI can deliver more inclusive benefits across healthcare, education, agriculture, services and manufacturing.

“To unlock these gains at scale, we need to broaden access to applied training that enables Malaysians to use AI effectively in the workplace. Through the basic package, YP is making it easier for more Bumiputera talents to start building job-ready AI skills now,” he said.

YP said that under the basic package, applicants may choose from more than 100 in-demand AI training courses offered by over 40 approved learning and training institutions (ALTIs).

“This list will continue to grow as more AI-related training is introduced to the market. The training is mapped to the AI Readiness Index (AIRI) framework developed by AI Singapore, helping participants identify the right entry point and progress in a structured manner.

“Courses include introductory and applied options such as AI prompting essentials and generative AI essentials, as well as role-relevant tracks across design, cloud, development, data, and security,” it said.

The Basic Package is open to applicants aged 16 and above, including school leavers, undergraduates, graduates, working adults, and self-employed or unemployed individuals.

“Training is designed to be practical and time-efficient, with a duration of up to six months,” YP added.

-- BERNAMA