Malaysia’s first public-private child care centre opens in Penang

A new public-private child care centre is set to open in Batu Kawan, Penang, in December 2022, borne of a joint partnership between Micron Technology, an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions, the Penang State Government and TalentCorp. The trio recently hosted an opening ceremony to celebrate the milestone – Micron executives, members of state government and local community leaders attended the event.

The new child care centre will be managed by WhyteHouse Education Group, an established operator of early child care education facilities in Malaysia, and is expected to accommodate up to 100 children between the ages of three and six years old.

This initiative is part of Micron’s ongoing diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI)-related efforts and well-defined commitments that include increasing representation of underrepresented groups, strengthening its culture of inclusion and advocating for gender equality.

The launch of the child care centre was guided by the Wellbeing team and the Micron Women’s Leadership Network employee resource group to support young parents with children and contribute to their work-life balance. As part of the company’s benefits, Micron Malaysia will subsidise the fees paid by its employees to the education provider.

“Access to childcare is one of the biggest determiners of whether working parents – and mothers specifically – are able to build a strong and fulfilling career. This centre is part of Micron’s strategy to build a diverse team with the strongest talent,” said Micron President and CEO, Dato’ Sanjay Mehrotra.

“We are thankful to the Penang State Government and TalentCorp for their partnership. Providing high-quality, affordable childcare will help ensure we can continue to attract and retain the best and brightest.”

In a recorded speech that was played at the event, Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, said, “Congratulations to Micron Malaysia on the launch of the child care centre. This success demonstrates the importance of meaningful public-private partnerships among ecosystem players in creating a conducive environment for talent growth and enhancement. As we embrace digitalisation and create a society that is digitally ready, early childhood education is critical to nurturing future generations of lifelong learners.”

“Congratulations to Micron Malaysia for leading the way with this first-of-its-kind child care centre, exemplifying leadership in addressing the needs of a diverse workforce,” said Thomas Mathew, Group CEO of TalentCorp. “Diverse talent pools are critical to economic resilience, and as a national agency driving Malaysia’s talent strategy, we recognise the need for meaningful public-private partnerships that address the needs of the workforce and promote inclusivity.”

Category: Community