On the 2nd of February, the 22nd series of the JPA-BMCC Management Programme was officially launched at the Opening Ceremony held at INTAN Bukit Kiara. Attended by the Deputy Director-General (Operations) Public Services Department, YBhg. Dato’ Sabariah Hassan, representatives from the BMCC, JPA and INTAN, the participating British companies and the candidates themselves, the ceremony signalled the beginning of the intensive 70-day training and attachment module.
The JPA-BMCC Management Programme is a bi-annual initiative instigated with the aim of providing Malaysian senior government officers with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and exposure to the dynamism of modern-day business management systems through training and working with British organisations both in Malaysia and their parent companies in the United Kingdom. Since its inception in 1983 by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed and the late Baroness Margaret Thatcher, more than 228 Malaysian senior government officers from various Government Ministries and Departments have worked together with 82 British companies in this long-running endeavour build and facilitate knowledge-exchange between our two nations.
This year, a total of 15 candidates from various Ministerial backgrounds such as Defence, Health, Agriculture, Environment & Natural Resources, Education and Public Works have been selected from hundreds of interested applicants to be a part of this programme. These candidates have been assigned to and will remain attached with nine participating British companies which are affiliated members of the BMCC.
These companies are as follows: The University of Nottingham (Malaysia Campus), Crops For The Future, Tesco Stores, Holiday Villa Hotels & Resorts, TMF Administrative Services, International SOS, British Airways, 90 North Real Estate Partners LLP and PWB Services.
Mr David Ng, Deputy Chairman of the BMCC, as well as Board Director Professor Graham Kendall were present on behalf of their participating companies International SOS and University of Nottingham respectively.
In a speech representing the Chamber, Head of OBNI Ralph Owczarek said: “This partnership with JPA has always been a high priority for the BMCC, as the essence of this programme’s directive is aligned with the Chamber’s mission, to be a part in supporting and guiding UK companies through the legal and regulatory systems and facilitating business matching with local and British partners.
Running with the theme “Forging Cohesion Through Integrity and Sustainability” this programme is specifically designed to focus on enhancing the critical thinking and management development of the participants as well to cultivate a culture of closer working between the public and private sectors in Malaysia.”
The candidates have already begun their week-long preparatory course at INTAN, with BMCC Executive Director Nik Tasha speaking to the candidates this morning on the subject of “Government-Business Relationship: British Practice and Experience.” Later today, representatives from the British High Commission in Paul Rennie OBE (Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia) and Mr Stephen Hill (Deputy Director of Trade & Investment) will be presenting on the matters of “The British Economy: Brexit Impact on Britain & Malaysia” and “British Business Culture & Etiquette” respectively.
