Train Your Team or Hire AI Experts? Here’s What Works in Malaysia

  • Date : January 3, 2026

Every business owner in Malaysia is asking the same question right now: Should we train our people or hire AI specialists?

I get it. The pressure is real. Your competitors are talking about AI. Your clients are asking about it. And you’re wondering if your team can even handle it.

Let me tell you what’s actually happening on the ground in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

The Real Talent Problem

Finding AI experts in Malaysia isn’t easy. The numbers tell the story:

And here’s the thing: even when you find someone, the big tech companies can outbid you. Google, Microsoft, Amazon. They’re all hiring in this region, and they pay top dollar.

What Changed in Two Years

Back in 2022, almost every AI role was impossible to fill. Companies were desperate for data scientists, machine learning engineers, anyone who understood AI.

Today in 2024, things shifted:

  • Data engineers got easier to find (but still not easy)
  • ML engineers and AI product managers remain super hard to hire
  • A new role popped up: prompt engineers (and yes, 60% of companies struggle to hire them)

But the biggest change? Companies stopped waiting around. Nearly half now focus on training their existing teams instead of endless job searches.

What Hiring Actually Costs

Let me break down the real numbers in Malaysian Ringgit:

Direct hiring costs:

Hidden costs nobody talks about:

A single marketing hire costs RM20,000 to RM35,000 per month with benefits. Multiply that across a team. The costs explode.

Training Costs Way Less

Here’s what corporate AI training actually costs:

Program costs:

What you get back:

  • Most companies see 2-5x ROI within 12-24 months
  • Best programs hit 4.2x ROI after training costs
  • One company cut content time by 75% and got 4.2x returns

Simple math: training costs about 3 times less than hiring.

Why Training Your People Works

When you train your existing team, magic happens.

Business wins:

Employee benefits:

  • People with AI skills earn 56% more (that premium doubled in just one year)
  • 79% of workers know AI skills expand opportunities
  • 93% expect positive career impact
  • 94% stay longer at companies that invest in them

Real results from real companies:

At D Action Consultancy, I’ve trained over 200 professionals in the last five months. Companies like Great Eastern, Nu Skin, UOB Kay Hian, RHB, and TNB. These aren’t tech companies. They’re regular businesses getting real results.

When You Should Hire Instead

Look, I’m not saying never hire. Sometimes you need outside expertise.

Hire when:

  • You need deep technical knowledge right now
  • You’re building a brand new AI team
  • The project needs skills your team doesn’t have
  • You have budget for competitive salaries
  • Speed matters more than cost

What hiring brings:

  • Instant access to advanced skills
  • Experience from multiple projects
  • Fresh ideas and perspectives
  • Industry connections

But remember: tech giants can outbid smaller companies. Skills go stale every 6 months. And cultural fit? That’s never guaranteed.

What’s Happening in Southeast Asia

The situation here in our region shows what’s possible with the right support.

Singapore’s push:

Malaysia’s initiatives:

Regional commitment:

This shows that with proper support, training works at massive scale.

Real Examples from My Clients

Let me share what actually happened with companies I worked with.

PLM Interiors (Construction): They trained 50 staff including four founders. Their challenges? Vendor selection and cost budgeting. Goal: improve efficiency 4x and cut budget overruns by 50% using AI.

Global Ace Maid Agency: Leading agency in Klang Valley with four branches. After training, they learned to use AI for creating marketing content in multiple languages. Critical when you manage employees from seven countries.

These aren’t tech startups. Regular Malaysian businesses solving real problems with AI training.

The Hybrid Approach That Works

Most successful companies don’t pick one or the other. They do both:

Start smart:

  1. Hire 1-2 senior AI specialists for your core team
  2. Launch training for existing employees
  3. Create internal AI champions
  4. Build mentorship programs

Scale up:

  • Use contractors for specialized projects
  • Develop internal talent through continuous training
  • Partner with training providers (like us)
  • Keep programs updated every 6 months

Sustain growth:

  • Run skills assessments regularly
  • Refresh training as tech evolves
  • Promote from within when possible
  • Hire externally for fresh perspectives

What Size Companies Should Do

Your size matters for strategy:

Small companies (under 50 employees):

  • Focus on training key people first
  • Use affordable tools and free courses
  • Consider contractor support for specialized needs
  • Budget: RM100-RM300 per month per user for basic tools

Medium companies (50-500 employees):

  • Mix training programs with selective hiring
  • Invest in proper training infrastructure
  • Build internal AI champions
  • Budget: RM400-RM1,200 per month for tools

Large enterprises (500+ employees):

  • Comprehensive training programs
  • Dedicated AI hiring team
  • Centers of excellence
  • Budget: RM20,000+ per year for enterprise solutions

Keys to Success

Whether you train or hire, certain things matter:

For training:

  • Get leadership buy-in early
  • Set clear business goals
  • Make training hands-on and practical
  • Make it accessible to everyone
  • Track results and adjust

For hiring:

  • Offer competitive pay
  • Define roles clearly
  • Provide growth opportunities
  • Build strong culture
  • Plan for retention, not just recruitment

For both:

  • Map your current skills and gaps
  • Plan strategically
  • Use flexible talent models
  • Keep assessing your approach
  • Share knowledge between hired experts and trained employees

What This Means for Malaysian Businesses

The research is clear: training costs less and builds loyalty. Hiring brings speed and expertise. Most companies need both.

But here’s what matters most: doing something beats waiting for the perfect answer. Companies winning with AI aren’t the ones with perfect strategies. They’re the ones that started.

If you’re in Southeast Asia, you have access to government programs and regional initiatives. Use them.

If you’re an SME, start by training a few key people. Don’t try everything at once.

If you’re a large company, build your hybrid model now. The talent shortage isn’t getting better.

Your Next Step

AI transformation doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. At D Action Consultancy, we’ve spent nearly 20 years in corporate Malaysia understanding what actually works here.

We specialize in practical AI training that delivers results, not theory. Our HRDF-certified programs cover AIGC, social media, and AI transformation strategies tailored for Malaysian and Southeast Asian businesses.

We’ve worked with companies across industries. Financial services. Healthcare. Manufacturing. Retail. SMEs and large corporations.

Whether you need to upskill your team, develop an AI strategy, or figure out where to start, we can help. Our approach combines hands-on AI expertise with a deep understanding of Malaysian business culture.

Ready to start? Get in touch with us to discuss how AI training can work for your organization. We’ll help you figure out the right path, whether that’s training, hiring, or both.

The AI revolution is happening now. Your competitors are already making moves. Don’t get left behind.

Start today. Train your people. Build your capabilities. The future belongs to Malaysian businesses that invest in their teams now.

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