KUALA LUMPUR, 15 April 2026 – Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) has appointed Datuk Rusli Jaafar as its new Chairman, effective 1 April 2026.

Datuk Rusli began his service with the Malaysia Cooperative Commission (SKM), formerly known as the Co-operative Development Department of Malaysia in 1993. In 2022, he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of SKM, a position he held until 2025.

With over 32 years of extensive experience in the public service sector, his distinguished leadership has contributed to strengthening institutional capacity, driving organisational transformation and expanding socio-economic development impact.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and has played a key role in strengthening the financial and economic sectors as strategic drivers of inclusive and sustainable national development.

Throughout his career, he has held various senior leadership positions across policy, operations, governance, and international affairs, and has led numerous strategic initiatives, including SKM’s digitalisation plan and the development of national cooperative policies

Under his leadership, SKM recorded a steady growth. As of December 2025, the total asset of the cooperative movement in Malaysia managed by SKM, has reached approximately RM186 billion with shares and fees exceeding RM18 billion, reflecting the significant role of the cooperative sector in the nation’s socio-economic development.

As of 2025, the financing arrears under Tabung Modal Pusingan SKM (TMP-SKM) were successfully reduced to RM11.33 million from RM20.67 million previously. Despite the nation facing post-pandemic COVID-19 challenges, SKM managed to reduce arrears among cooperatives through the implementation of several effective strategies led by him.

In 2024, for the first time, cooperative registrations under SKM exceeded 1,000 per year, compared to an average of approximately 600 annually in previous years. This achievement was driven by the implementation of aggressive awareness and promotional programmes to encourage cooperative participation among the public.

In addition, SKM successfully obtained an Unqualified Audit Certificate for its financial statements for the years ended 31 December 2022, 2023 and 2024. The auditor’s report confirmed that the financial statements present a true and fair view of SKM’s financial position for the respective periods, as well as its financial performance and cash flows for the years ended on those dates. This recognition is in line with the Malaysian Public Sector Accounting Standards (MPSAS) and the requirements under the Malaysian Cooperative Commission Act 2007 [Act 665].

His contributions have also been recognised through several Excellent Service Awards (APC) and he was conferred the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) in 2024. Under his leadership, SKM also received recognition when it was awarded the Penghargaan Khas Organisasi at the Malaysia Franchise Awards Night 2024.

Datuk Rusli’s appointment reflects HRD Corp’s commitment to further strengthening its mandate in driving skills development, workforce training and human capital sustainability, in line with national priorities and the evolving needs of employers and the workforce.