In a farewell video shared on HRD Corp’s social media platforms, Shahul reflected on his tenure and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all staff.

“You are the reason I am here. You made me very proud. Together, we made the dream come true,” he said.

His tenure was marked by several achievements, although it was also briefly shrouded in controversy.

Under Shahul, the one-stop employment and skills development centre underwent a significant period of transformation and growth.

He is credited with modernising the organisation and is fondly regarded as one of the key architects of its transformation.

Shahul also helped HRD Corp reshape its strategic direction to expand its impact on Malaysia’s human capital development agenda — both nationally and regionally.

In 2024, he led HRD Corp to an all-time high income of RM434.2 million, recording a surplus before tax of RM127 million. Assets under the corporation’s management also grew to RM4 billion.

HRD Corp also secured a strong return on investment of 5.3% in 2024, a result attributed to targeted and strategic investment initiatives.

It achieved a historic levy collection of RM2.32 billion, complemented by grant approvals totalling RM2.28 billion with a 98% utilisation rate.

Beyond those milestone achievements, Shahul is deeply respected and appreciated by the staff.

“His ability to connect with people, regardless of rank or role, created a work culture defined by inclusivity, trust and shared purpose,” a staff member, who asked not to be named, said.

Shahul’s tenure as CEO was largely controversy-free although he suffered a setback when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) initiated a probe into HRD Corp last year.

The investigation, which arose from issues outlined in the 2024 auditor-general’s report, saw Shahul take a voluntary leave of absence in July last year. MACC later cleared the agency’s management of wrongdoing and Shahul returned to work.