TalentCorp executives receive show-cause letters amid proposed leadership changes

KUALA LUMPUR: Several senior executives at Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) have received show-cause letters and reprimands amid leadership tensions and proposed changes to the government-linked company’s senior management.

Twentytwo13 learnt that the ongoing disciplinary action has affected several members of the company’s senior leadership team, with some suspended while others are being subjected to a domestic inquiry. This has affected their morale.

While TalentCorp, an agency under the Human Resources Ministry, has declined to comment on the matter, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan has confirmed that an investigation is underway.

“I shouldn’t comment at the moment, but I can confirm there is an investigation,” Ramanan told Twentytwo13 earlier today. “It is best to let TalentCorp handle the issue.”

Insiders said group chief executive officer Biruntha Mooruthi wanted to make changes to the organisation and senior leadership team but questioned the basis for disciplinary action against senior managers who had previously been responsible for major areas of the company’s operations.

Speaking to Twentytwo13 on condition of anonymity, the insiders said they believed the executives had faced increased scrutiny after questioning or challenging some of Biruntha’s decisions.

“They (senior management) are expected to ask questions as part of their responsibilities,” one insider said. “That should not automatically be treated as opposition to the CEO.”

The development comes months after Biruntha was appointed group chief executive officer on April 15, 2026, succeeding Edward Ling, who had assumed the position on Nov 4, 2025.

TalentCorp plays a role in attracting and retaining skilled talent, developing Malaysia’s workforce and addressing skills gaps to support the country’s economic growth.

Twentytwo13 also learnt that a group of TalentCorp employees had expressed their disappointment over Biruntha’s use of Quranic verses during a special town hall meeting on Aug 3, where she had allegedly discussed workplace gossip.

The letter signed by ‘Warga Kerja TalentCorp Yang Kecewa’ (Disappointed TalentCorp Employees) was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office and 10 others, including Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Ramanan and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia.

Ramanan confirmed to Twentytwo13 that he had received a copy of the letter.

Twentytwo13 contacted several members of TalentCorp’s senior leadership team for comment. Some declined to comment, saying they were “not in a position to say anything”, while others referred questions to the group’s communications department.

In an email response to queries from Twentytwo13 on Oct 9, TalentCorp’s group communications and public relations department said it generally did not comment publicly on individual employee matters or internal processes.

“TalentCorp manages its internal human resource matters in accordance with its established policies and procedures, while taking due consideration of confidentiality and the privacy of those involved,” the company said.

“In view of this, we hope you will understand that we are unable to provide further details regarding the matters raised.”