MBI Selangor and CARSOME Academy Drive Youth Empowerment Through RM115,000 Hero-in-Auto Scholarship Programme

Partnership strengthens TVET development and creates skilled workforce pathways for underserved youth in the automotive sector

Selangor, 13 January 2026 – Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI Selangor), through Yayasan MBI, is deepening its partnership with CARSOME Academy, the education arm of Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, by sponsoring RM115,000 to the Hero-in-Auto Scholarship programme, aimed at empowering underprivileged youth in high-skill automotive fields, reinforcing their shared commitment to human capital development.

This collaboration drives CARSOME Academy’s Empoweryouth+ 2.0 initiative, opening doors for B40 youth to gain certified automotive training under the national TVET framework and equipping them with the skills and confidence to drive their futures forward in the automotive industry. A total of eight deserving youth from B40 households have been selected for this intake under this scholarship cohort.

The scholarships were handed over by Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor, Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, at CARSOME’s Certified Lab together with the Group CEO of Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI Selangor), Dato’ Ts. Saipolyazan M Yusop, accompanied by CARSOME Group’s Co-Founder and CEO of CARSOME Academy, Teoh Jiun Ee.

Among the selected scholars is Muhammad Ikmal Wafiq bin Abd Aziz, an 18-year-old who has been working long hours in the gig economy to support his mother and siblings after losing his father. Despite the heavy responsibilities at home, Ikmal has quietly pursued his dream in the automotive field, teaching himself skills from videos and hands-on tinkering. Driven by passion and determination, he is now ready to turn his interest into a career. “This opportunity gives me the chance to turn my passion into a real career. I’m ready to learn, grow, and contribute to the industry,” he shared.

Also part of the cohort is Muhammad Afiq Haziq, 18, who has spent years honing his skills at a local workshop while juggling part-time gig work. His early hands-on experience has given him practical knowledge, patience, and problem-solving skills. For 

Afiq, the scholarship is a pathway to turn years of hard work into a long-term, meaningful career in the automotive sector. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to strengthen my skills with a valid accreditation that will turn a passion into a meaningful growth opportunity for life,” he said.

Group Chief Executive Officer of MBI Selangor, YBhg. Dato’ Ts. Saipolyazan M Yusop, said, “This collaboration marks another milestone in our long-term partnership with CARSOME Academy to strengthen Selangor’s role as a center for human capital and economic growth. By working with committed industry partners, we aim to create sustainable opportunities for youth and support Malaysia’s broader nation-building agenda.”

CARSOME Group Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CARSOME Academy, Teoh Jiun Ee said, “Our partnership with MBI Selangor through the Hero-in-Auto Scholarship programme under CARSOME Academy’s Empoweryouth+ initiative reflects our shared goal of giving young Malaysians access to real opportunities. By equipping young Malaysians with industry-relevant skills and practical experience, the programme not only transforms lives but also advances Malaysia’s TVET ecosystem and cultivates a future-ready, skilled workforce, particularly within the automotive sector. With experience, our graduates can progress into higher-paying positions such as Service Advisor, Foreman or Assistant Service Manager, with income growth of up to 130% over five years.”

During the event, past scholarship recipients under the Selangor State Government’s education initiatives shared their experiences and presented a memento to Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor, Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, in appreciation of the opportunity to pursue automotive training with CARSOME Academy. A total of 29 students have benefited from the programme supported by the Menteri Besar Selangor and delivered in collaboration with CARSOME Academy, underscoring the state’s commitment to developing skilled talent.

(From left) Dato’ Haji Ts. Saipolyazan bin Mat Yusop, Group Chief Executive Officer of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) Selangor; Encik Teoh Jiun Ee, Co-Founder of CARSOME and Chief Executive Officer; Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, Menteri Besar Selangor; Encik Fairuz Ilham bin Ahmad Kamal, CARSOME Academy alumnus; and Encik Ahmad Azri Zainal Nor, Head of Yayasan MBI, during the plaque presentation session to the Menteri Besar Selangor.

The nine-month Hero-in-Auto Scholarship programme combines three months of classroom theory, five months of industrial practical training, and one month of employability preparation, culminating in the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM Level 2 – Light Vehicle Repair). The programme adopts a 70% practical and 30% classroom learning structure to ensure graduates are equipped with competencies that meet current industry standards.

Designed to bridge the gap between education and employment, the programme equips students with hands-on experience, leadership development, and essential employability skills, culminating in 100% job placement upon completion. Graduates are offered a structured career pathway that enables them to build long-term careers in the automotive industry.

Through this collaboration, MBI Selangor through Yayasan MBI and CARSOME Academy reaffirm their shared vision of nation-building through education, employability, and inclusive growth, empowering the next generation of skilled Malaysians to drive the country’s automotive and technical sectors into the future.

(From left) Kendo Ho, Associate Director, CARSOME Academy; Encik Ahmad Azri Zainal Nor, Head of Yayasan MBI; Encik Teoh Jiun Ee, Co-Founder of CARSOME and Chief Executive Officer, CARSOME Academy; Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, Menteri Besar Selangor; Dato’ Haji Ts. Saipolyazan bin Mat Yusop, Group Chief Executive Officer of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) Selangor; Leeroy Ting, Regional Director, Corporate Affairs, CARSOME; and Lynn Dhia, Regional Head of Marketing, CARSOME, during a walkabout at the CARSOME Certified Lab in Bukit Raja.

(From left) Mr Teoh Jiun Ee, Co-Founder of CARSOME and CARSOME Academy’s Chief Executive Officer, Kendo Ho, Associate Director, CARSOME Academy (second row, left), Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, Menteri Besar Selangor, Encik Ahmad Azri Zainal Nor, Head of Yayasan MBI, Leeroy Ting, Regional Director, Corporate Affairs, CARSOME, and
Dato’ Haji Ts. Saipolyazan bin Mat Yusop, Group Chief Executive Officer of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) Selangor, during a walkabout at the CARSOME Certified Lab in Bukit Raja.