PayNet’s "Program Akar" Is Back — Here’s How It’s Prepping Youths For An AI-Powered Future

Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter, or Telegram and WhatsApp channels for the latest stories and updates.

If you’re a student eyeing a future in AI, data science, or digital finance — and you care about doing it with purpose — PayNet’s Program Akar might just be what you’re looking for.

The second phase of the training programme just launched, with 100 students set to join this year.

It kicks off with 25 from Multimedia University (MMU) and will grow to include 75 more from other local unis by the end of 2025.

Well, in short, it’s not just about building skills — it’s about building character.

The programme is a team effort run by PayNet in collaboration with Microsoft (under its AIforMYFuture initiative), PEOPLElogy Berhad, and Futuresparx Sdn Bhd.

Participants will go through a three-part learning journey that covers:

And this isn’t just classroom stuff. Participants get real mentorship, hands-on experience, and job placement opportunities with some of the country’s top financial players.

At the launch, Farhan Ahmad, Group CEO of PayNet, said the goal of the programme is to “build the roots”—hence the name Akar, which means “roots” in Malay.

“Akar lives at the intersection of technology, finance, and most importantly, values,” he said. “It’s the ultimate compass when you’re heading into an uncertain future. What we do with it is the difference-maker — values transcend technology.”

So what kind of values is Akar trying to instil? Farhan lists them out:

What sets Akar apart is how seriously it takes the “practice what you learn” part.

“Akar is not just about the training,” Farhan added. “If you don’t practice what you’ve learned, you lose it. The difference with Akar is that once you graduate from the learning, we put you in a position to use it. Once you put it into action, you won’t forget it. We don’t stop at teaching — we take it to the next level.”

Farhan didn’t sugarcoat the reality of where AI is headed.

Microsoft Malaysia Managing Director Laurence Si also spoke at the launch, reflecting on his decades in tech.

Si has seen his fair share of revolutions in tech — from the PC era to the cloud — but said AI feels different.

“For the first time, AI is giving everyone unlimited access to data and knowledge. It’s like having a personal tutor at your fingertips,” he noted. “We’re still early in the AI journey. The future’s not defined yet — and who’s going to define it? We are. We are the future.”

PayNet’s Program Akar is more than just a training course — it’s a mission to shape the next wave of tech talent for Malaysia. And that’s something we can all root for.

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Threads.