Malaysia's aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector is expanding rapidly, driven by growing business aviation investment and the development of Subang as a regional hub. Foreign companies are increasingly investing and setting up MRO facilities in Subang to meet rising aviation service needs, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said [1].
The growth is creating significant demand for skilled technicians. Loke highlighted that military retirees from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) are a key talent pool, as they already possess the necessary skills and require minimal additional training to join MRO and related transport sectors. "From defence to civilian sectors, the competencies are very similar," he noted [1].
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Ministry of Defence (Mindef) have formally collaborated on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs to prepare MAF personnel for transition into civilian roles. An event in June marked this strategic partnership focusing on upskilling military retirees for transport subsectors [1, 2].
There are currently 3,208 identified job vacancies across transport areas including ports, logistics, rail, public transport and land transport specifically targeted for MAF retirees, according to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. Around 5,000 military personnel retire annually, with more than 4,000 of them aged 39 or older and remaining of working age [2].
The transition program provides a one-year period where retirees undergo six months of industry training before absorption by companies that then provide their salaries. During this phase, retirees continue to receive government salaries and retirement benefits [2].
Additionally, MAF retirees with truck and heavy vehicle driving experience will be helped to obtain a Class E driving licence through a streamlined military-to-civilian licence conversion at no cost. The usual cost for this licence ranges from RM4,000 to RM5,000 [1, 2].
Khaled said, "Once they find employment, companies will pay their salaries while retirees will continue receiving their rightful pensions" [2]. The program aims to efficiently re-integrate trained veterans into Malaysia's growing transport and aviation services sectors.
The ongoing collaboration between MOT and Mindef will be closely monitored, with continued recruitment and training efforts aligned to the evolving skills demand of Malaysia's MRO and transport industries [1, 2].
