Ekuiti Nasional Berhad (Ekuinas) recently celebrated the graduation of 75 participants from the Iltizam Professional Development Programme (PDP) Cohort 2025, bringing the total number of Bumiputra graduates supported since 2012 to 807.
Aligned with Ekuinas’ social mandate to strengthen Bumiputera economic participation, the PDP advances this commitment by focusing on talent development and career readiness.
Iltizam is Ekuinas’ social impact platform, designed to uplift the Bumiputera community through targeted, impact-driven initiatives across three core pillars: entrepreneurship, education and community.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Aliff Omar Mohamad Omar, chief executive officer of Ekuinas, stated: “Over the years, we have received a consistently high number of applications from across Malaysia. Each application represents hope, responsibility and the potential of young graduates. The selection process is rigorous as we look for drive, grit and potential, with the belief that with the right guidance and opportunities, these young men and women would go far.”
Iltizam PDP adopts a holistic approach to graduate development, combining structured classroom training, personalised coaching and mentorship, with a 12-month salaried work placement at Ekuinas and 28 other organisations, consisting of Ekuinas portfolio companies and partner organisations.
Graduate associates receive a monthly salary of RM2,800, beginning with the current 2026 cohort, a revision from RM2.500 previously.
The PDP modules cover personal, interpersonal and business leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, and career building.
Participants employed as graduate associates gain hands-on exposure to real workplace responsibilities, enabling them to build confidence, professionalism and real-world skills essential for long-term career success.
Aliff Omar said the programme plays an important role in bridging the gap between academic qualifications and industry expectations.
“This graduation represents the start of 75 professional journeys. Through structured training, real workplace exposure and continuous guidance, the programme equips graduates with the soft skills, discipline, grit and confidence needed to transition meaningfully into the workforce and build sustainable and successful careers,” he added.
The graduation ceremony recognised outstanding participant achievements, with Muhammad Irfan Mohammad Fuad, 29, from Selangor, receiving the Harap Award as the Best Graduate Associate of Iltizam PDP 2025, in addition to being selected by his peers as the Valedictorian of the Iltizam PDP Cohort 2025.
The HARAP Award was conferred in recognition of exemplary conduct and strong embodiment of the programme’s core values of humble, agile, resilient, adab and professionalism.
The award is determined based on evaluations conducted throughout the year by Ekuinas, placement companies, trainers and coaches.
Meanwhile, the Valedictorian honour recognised consistently strong academic and workplace performance, demonstrated leadership qualities and overall excellence throughout the programme.
Irfan, who is currently working as an investment executive at Koperasi Islah Malaysia Berhad said, “Iltizam PDP has been a meaningful learning journey for me. The support, mentorship and workplace exposure helped me develop practical skills and greater confidence. I have gained valuable insights into workplace dynamics and expectations, and well prepared to begin on the pathway to a meaningful career.”
The graduation ceremony aslo featured a panel discussion titled ‘Voices of Leadership’, featuring Ekuinas’ senior leadership comprising Ekuinas chairman Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, Ekuinas Board Member and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee (CSRC) chairman Dato’ Abdul Mutalib Alias and Ekuinas chief executive officer Aliff Omar Mohamad Omar.
The panellists shared candid insights from their early career journeys, overcoming challenges and setting priorities.
The interactive session fostered open and honest dialogue with the Graduating Cohort 2025, offering practical guidance and encouragement as they prepare to enter the workforce.
Since its inception, Iltizam PDP graduates are now employed across a diverse range of sectors, including investment and financial services, telecommunications, professional services, education, manufacturing, healthcare, public sector and Ekuinas portfolio companies.
The programme continues to evolve in line with changing market demands and remains aligned with national talent development priorities, including the Government’s GEAR-uP “Raise the Floor” initiative, which focuses on upskilling and strengthening workforce readiness.
In 2025, Ekuinas disbursed RM12.7 million through Iltizam initiatives, with RM9.2 million allocated to education-focused programmes, including Iltizam PDP. Applications for Iltizam PDP 2027 are expected to open in August 2026 for eligible Bumiputera graduates under 30 years old, hold a minimum bachelor’s degree from any field of study with a CGPA of 3.0, come from households earning below RM5,000 per month, and have been unemployed for over six months at the time of application
