Strategies for Human Resource Development

In the sixties and seventies, human resource development (HRD) was recognized as one of the many objectives towards long-term economic growth of Malaysia. HRD has, however, taken the center stage of development priorities in the 1980s due to Government’s industrialization program as well as the growing realization of the importance of human resources in the push for economic growth. The Fifth Malaysia Plan spell out the need to focus on HRD in raising the productivity of labor force in the country, while on the other hand the Industrial Master Plan (IMP) sets out the direction for future development of human resources in the context industrial development Malaysia is well endowed with natural resources which have contributed successfully to its economic growth. However, development both at home and in the world economy necessitate the transformation of the Malaysian economy from one that is agriculture-based to a more diversified portfolio, with manufacturing taking a dominant role. This development also entails changes in HRD so that Malaysia can develop appropriate manpower to fulfil its industrial needs. It is essential that the human resources so developed, is suitable to the needs of Malaysia’s industrial requirments in the long run. In line with this, therefore, the thrust of HRD must be the raising of labor productivity through training and skill upgrading in view to meeting the manpower needs of the economy.