- Goal is not to create training system but an ecosystem with various partners playing key roles
- Equip 80 youth from B40 from with practical, job-ready skills in sales, digital tools and financial literacy
Biji-biji Initiative (BBI) convened over 30 representatives from government agencies, employers, funders, and learning institutions at Mereka Space in Kuala Lumpur on Wed, May 20, 2026 to mark the commencement of NextGen Sellers Cohort 1, a workforce development programme supported by the Citi Foundation that places B40 Malaysian youth aged 18 to 24 into paid, six-month sales careers.
The programme launched its pilot at an investment of approximately RM15,000 per participant, designed to stress-test the model before scaling to 80 participants across three cohorts. Participants receive:
- A monthly allowance of RM1,800 for six months, a laptop, and transportation support;
- Social security coverage through PERKESO; and
- Six structured interventions covering sales skills, English for the workplace (with UiTM Akademi Pengajian Bahasa), financial management (with FINCO), AI tools, and professional mentorship.
With this being the first cohort, the number of participants was deliberately kept very small with five participants in the pilot, designed to stress-test the programme design before scaling to larger intakes. The participants came from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Pahang. The programme was promoted through referrals from partner NGOs in Malaysia as well as through BBI’s social media channels.
“What we are building is not a training course. It is an ecosystem,” said Ambika Sangaran, Partner at BBI and COO at Mereka. “No single programme, employer, or funder can solve the structural barriers these young people face alone. Today showed us what coordination looks like when it is working.”
Launched in 2013, Biji-biji Initiative is a social impact organisation that equips changemakers with knowledge, technology, networks, and resources through purposefully designed programmes. It said it has nurtured 836,000 changemakers and supported over 230 impact projects.
The Citi Foundation supported this programme through its Global Innovation Challenge to accelerate youth employability, which provides support to community organisations that are developing innovative solutions to social and economic challenges facing low-income communities around the world. Shuang-Shuang Keng, Vice President of International Community Relations at Citi, said, “We see philanthropy as a driver of innovation, not just a provider of resources. Through catalytic funding, we support organisations like Biji-biji to pilot, test, and scale solutions to address pressing challenges.”
Vikram Singh, Citi Country Officer and Banking Head, Malaysia, said, “Initiatives like the NextGen Sellers Ecosystem are vital in equipping young Malaysians, particularly from underserved communities, with practical, job-ready skills in sales, digital tools and financial literacy. In line with the national aspiration to raise both the floor and the ceiling, ensuring no one is left behind while enabling more Malaysians to reach their full potential, programmes like this play a critical role. Through the Citi Foundation, we are proud to support efforts that bring together cross-sector partnerships to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, empowering the next generation to secure sustainable employment and contribute meaningfully to Malaysia’s growth.”
The initiative fills a stark void in the current youth development landscape. Lakshwin Muruga, Head of Community Development at Yayasan Hasanah, noted, “There are hundreds of organisations focusing on youth unemployment, but few are really addressing youths with no prior skills at all. You have to build the right environment around them: stipend, coaching, mentorship. You build all of that, and then they can truly grow.”
Brian Tan, CEO and Co-founder of FutureLab.my, highlighted the untapped potential of the demographic, “Many B40 youths are already natural entrepreneurs, selling on TikTok or running food stalls. Those skills are invisible in a formal hiring process. Our job is to help them map what they already know to a real role, and find role models who come from where they came from.”
Representing the inaugural batch, 19-year-old Aida from Kuala Lumpur, who previously worked across various frontline roles as a nursery assistant, barista, and retail assistant, shared, “Coming from a B40 background, getting a corporate breakthrough felt impossible without a degree. This programme is a turning point for me; it goes beyond the financial lifeline of a stipend. I am here to build my self-management, master critical sales skills, and gain the confidence to communicate fluently and professionally with sales clients.”
For employer partners, the programme requires a shift in hiring philosophy. Tabitha Yap, Business Development and Partnership Manager at Kidocode Malaysia, stated, “The gap is not about intelligence. It is about exposure. What we look for is attitude and adaptability. Employers need to stop waiting for the perfect ready candidate and start building the pipeline instead.”
Key partners present at the convening spanned three categories:
- Government Institutions: PERKESO, FELDA, MyFutureJobs, and AAPGM-SDG
- Learning Partners: UiTM Akademi Pengajian Bahasa and FINCO
- Employer Partners: Voltek Energy, Kidocode Malaysia, and Telecontinent
NextGen Sellers is now accepting applications for Cohort 2. The programme is fully funded and open to Malaysian youth aged 18 to 24 from B40 households with SPM/SKM or equivalent qualifications who are not in full-time higher education. Applications can be submitted at bit.ly/JoinNextGenSellers or via WhatsApp at 017-691-5805.
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