LiKES By Talent Corp

Driving Talent Growth

Internship Placement Matching Grant for SMEs and Start-Ups (LiKES)

Supporting SMEs and start-ups in providing meaningful internship opportunities through a matching grant by TalentCorp.

About LiKES

What is LiKES?

LiKES by TalentCorp is an internship placement matching grant designed to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in hiring and nurturing interns.

Core Intent

Internship programme must commence within the same year as when the LiKES application was made and endorsed by TalentCorp.
Internship reimbursement claim submission must be made within 3 months from the completion of the internship (per assessment year).
Interns must sign up on MyNext Talent and complete the psychometric assessment at talent.mynext.my upon receiving an internship placement offer by a LiKES company.
For more information, please contact: likes@talentcorp.com.my

Initial Process

How Does It Work?

Tier 1

RM 500.00 / monthly allowance

Eligible interns: Pursuing Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 1–3, Diploma, or Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM)

Reimbursement by TalentCorp (TC): 50% (RM250.00 per month)

Notes:

Employers may provide higher allowances (e.g., RM600). In such cases, TC reimburses 50% of the actual amount, up to RM300.

Reimbursement under LiKES is provided for a minimum of 2.5 months and up to 6 months of internship.

Tier 2

RM 600.00 / monthly allowance

Eligible interns: Pursuing Malaysian Advanced Skills Diploma (DLKM), Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or Professional Certificate

Reimbursement by TalentCorp (TC): 50% (RM300.00 per month)

Notes:

If employers provide more than RM600 per month, TC reimbursement is capped at RM300 per intern, per month.

Reimbursement under LiKES is provided for a minimum of 2.5 months and up to 6 months of internship.

Internship Grant Reimbursement for Employers

TalentCorp supports employers by reimbursing part of the monthly internship allowance. Employers paying RM500 per intern are eligible for up to RM250 reimbursement per month, while those paying RM600 or more may claim up to RM300 reimbursement per month.

Internship Duration

2.5 Months

Tier 1 (RM 500 Minimum)
Tier 2 (RM 600 Minimum)

Employer pays: RM 1,250

TC reimburses: RM 625

Employer pays: RM 1,500

TC reimburses: RM 750

3 Months

Tier 1 (RM 500 Minimum)
Tier 2 (RM 600 Minimum)

Employer pays: RM 1,500

TC reimburses: RM 750

Employer pays: RM 1,800

TC reimburses: RM 900

4 Months

Tier 1 (RM 500 Minimum)
Tier 2 (RM 600 Minimum)

Employer pays: RM 2,000

TC reimburses: RM 1,000

Employer pays: RM 2,400

TC reimburses: RM 1,200

5 Months

Tier 1 (RM 500 Minimum)
Tier 2 (RM 600 Minimum)

Employer pays: RM 2,500

TC reimburses: RM 1,250

Employer pays: RM 3,000

TC reimburses: RM 1,500

6 Months

Tier 1 (RM 500 Minimum)
Tier 2 (RM 600 Minimum)

Employer pays: RM 3,000

TC reimburses: RM 1,500

Employer pays: RM 3,600

TC reimburses: RM 1,800

Who Can Apply?

MDAG is open to both local and majority foreign-owned companies incorporated in Malaysia.

Employers

SMEs/start-ups registered with SSM

Offer internships (min. 10 weeks) with structured programmes verified by TalentCorp

Pay monthly allowance (according to tier)

Register on LIKES and declare internship quota

Submit claims within 3 months after internship ends

Interns

Malaysian citizen & full-time student (local/abroad)

Internship with LIKES-endorsed company

Register & complete assessment on MyNext Talent (talent.mynext.my)

Complete internship before finishing studies

An SME is a company resident in Malaysia that meets the following criteria:

Capital: Paid-up capital of RM2.5 million or less, and not linked to a company exceeding this amount.
Annual sales turnover of less than RM300,000 (Micro), RM15 million (Small), and RM50 million (Medium).
The number of employees in the company (including foreign workers and expatriates) is less than 5 (Micro), 75 (Small), or 200 (Medium).

A Start-Up is a Malaysia-resident company that meets these conditions:

Incorporated within the last 5 years.
Revenue/investment size: Less than RM20 million.
Driven by innovation, disruption, and technology enablement.

Let's Get Started

Ready to grow your business with the help of the grant? Contact us today to check your eligibility and get a free consultation. We’ll assist you with the application process and provide a customized digital solution for your business needs.