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

LiKES by TalentCorp is a strategic internship placement matching grant designed for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in Malaysia. With an allocation of RM30 million over three years, this initiative aims to empower SMEs and start-ups by providing financial support to nurture local talent through meaningful, structured, and paid student internship programmes.

Eligible employers can benefit from the LiKES grant through reimbursement for the minimum monthly allowance provided to hired interns. For 2025, RM10 million has been allocated to support up to 10 interns per approved company, ensuring businesses can access and cultivate a pipeline of future-ready talent.

Through the LiKES Programme, eligible employers can receive a matching grant reimbursement for the minimum monthly allowance provided to hired interns, subject to the Terms and Conditions of the programme.

The reimbursement rate is determined by the educational qualifications of the hired intern. The details are as follows:

HOW DOES IT WORK? 

Eligible employers can claim reimbursements at the specified rate for up to ten (10) interns per organisation. To qualify, each internship must have a minimum duration of 2.5 months (70 days).

The incentives and benefits provided under the LiKES Programme are applicable exclusively to interns hired within the Approved Allocation and during the designated Endorsement Period.

For added clarity, interns hired before the start of the Endorsement Period but continuing their internship during this timeframe are also eligible for the programme’s incentives and benefits. However, coverage is limited to amaximum of twelve (12) months.​

For a detailed breakdown of this structure, please refer to the illustration provided below.

Eligible employers are required to provide TalentCorp with the necessary details of the hired interns, as specified under the Approved Allocation, along with any supporting documents requested by TalentCorp. These documents are to be submitted for record-keeping and benefit claim purposes. All required information must be furnished within three (3) months following the completion of the interns’ respective internship periods.

HOW MUCH GRANT WILL THE EMPLOYER RECEIVE? 

TalentCorp will reimburse maximum RM250.00 per intern per month if the employer pays RM500.00, and maximum RM300.00 if the employer pays RM600.00 or above.

WHO CAN APPLY?

HOW TO APPLY AND CLAIM?

DEFINITION OF SMALL MEDIUM ENTERPRISE (SME)

An enterprise qualifies as an SME if it meets either the sales turnover or full-time employee criteria

For more information on SME verification, visit smecorp.gov.my

DEFINITION OF START-UP

• Company resident in Malaysia incorporated no more than 5 years.
• Revenue and / or investment size of less than RM20 million.
• Innovation-driven and disruptive, technology enabled business.

APPLY NOW!

• Complete the application form at 
  REGISTER NOW
• TalentCorp may request certified documents during registration to verify the employer’s incorporation or registration with relevant authorities.
• The internship reimbursement claim submission must be made not more than 3 months from the date of completion of internship (per assessment year)
• Interns must sign-up on MyNext Talent and complete the psychometric assessment at https://talent.mynext.my/ upon received of internship placement offered by LiKES company.
• For more information, please contact: likes@talentcorp.com.my