13 Members of Parliament Appointed as ‘Friends of KESUMA’ to Strengthen Parliamentary Engagement and Labour Agenda

PUTRAJAYA, 30 July 2025 – A total of 13 Members of Parliament from various parties within the MADANI Government have been appointed as Friends of Ministry under the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), through the Friends of Ministry (FOM) initiative introduced by the Government Backbenchers Club (BBC).

The appointments mark a strategic move to enhance collaboration between KESUMA and government MPs, ensuring that the ministry’s policies and initiatives are effectively communicated to grassroots communities.

Through this initiative, the appointed MPs will be given access to research materials, policy briefings, and regular engagement sessions to strengthen their role in Parliamentary debates and Question Time.

The aim is also to increase their outreach and engagement with the public on labour-related matters.

As strategic partners to the ministry, the Friends of KESUMA will provide input, contribute ideas, and support legislative proposals and motions tabled by KESUMA.

They will also help to build a positive public narrative around the labour market reform agenda and ensure accurate information reaches the public.

During the official appointment ceremony, the MPs were briefed on KESUMA’s strategic 3K mission – Welfare, Skills, and Productivity of Workers – anchored on the principle of karamah insaniah (human dignity), which guides the ministry’s ongoing labour market reform efforts to uplift and protect the dignity of workers in Malaysia.

The session also outlined several key legislative priorities currently underway, including:

• The Gig Workers Bill, scheduled for first reading on 14 August 2025;
• Amendments to the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4) to expand 24-hour social protection coverage for workers;
• Amendments to the Employment Insurance System Act 2017 (Act 800) to increase benefits for retrenched workers, including early reemployment allowance, retraining support, and job relocation assistance;
• Proposed upgrades to the National Skills Development Act 2006 (Act 652) to raise the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) levels from 1–5 to levels 6–8;
• Amendments to the Skills Development Fund Act 2004 (Act 640) to allow Malaysians enrolled in professional and accredited courses to access financing through the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK).

Chairman of the Government Backbenchers Club (BBC), Dato’ Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah, said that the appointment of Friends of KESUMA would play a key role in Parliamentary debates, enhancing the ministry’s credibility and effectiveness through strategic collaboration with MPs.

He emphasised that active participation from all component parties in the MADANI Government is essential to ensure policy and legislative discussions reflect unity and shared strength.

The 13 MPs appointed as Friends of KESUMA are:

• YB Dato’ Indera Mohd Shahar bin Abdullah – MP for Paya Besar and BBC Chairman
• YB Tuan Mordi Anak Bimol – MP for Mas Gading
• YB Dr. Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen – MP for Bandar Kuching
• YB Tuan Chong Chieng Jen – MP for Stampin
• YB Tuan Ramkarpal Singh a/l Karpal Singh – MP for Bukit Gelugor
• YB Tuan V. Sivakumar a/l Varatharaju Naidu – MP for Batu Gajah
• YB Dato’ Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik – MP for Balik Pulau
• YB Tuan Prabakaran a/l M. Parameswaran – MP for Batu
• YB Dato’ Haji Shamshulkahar bin Mohd Deli – MP for Jempol
• YB Datuk Seri Saravanan a/l Murugan – MP for Tapah
• YB Tuan Haji Ahmad Johnie bin Zawawi – MP for Igan
• YB Puan Wong Shu Qi – MP for Kluang
• YB Puan Syerleena binti Abdul Rashid – MP for Bukit Bendera