KUCHING: Work in Malaysia is getting more digital and more dynamic, but for many it is also becoming less connected.
INFINITY8 Head of Recruitment Kathy Wong said the shift is shaping boardroom discussions, hiring decisions, and business strategy as industries evolve and technology accelerates.
“The future of work is no longer just about efficiency. It is about belonging, purpose, and the ability to grow together,” she said.
She said many organisations are still operating across separate vendors for core workplace functions, which slows decision-making and weakens accountability as teams scale.
“Many organisations still rely on fragmented systems such as one vendor for workspace, another for Human Resources (HR), a third for payroll, and others for compliance.
“These silos slow decisions, reduce accountability, and make it difficult to maintain culture as teams grow.”
She noted that compliance requirements remain crucial, but smaller or expanding organisations without in-house HR infrastructure can find them difficult to navigate.
“Frameworks such as the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), and Monthly Tax Deduction (PCB) are crucial for ensuring protection and structure, but navigating them can overwhelm smaller or expanding organisations that lack in-house HR infrastructure.
“What was meant to be a safety net often becomes a maze.”
She pointed out that Malaysia’s national agenda has placed technology, innovation, and workforce development at the heart of the country’s growth strategy.
She said execution in business remains the real test, even as the country builds the groundwork through digital infrastructure, incentives, and human capital initiatives.
“The MADANI Economic Framework and the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan have all placed technology, innovation, and workforce development at the heart of the country’s growth strategy.
“The country is already laying the groundwork such as investments in digital infrastructure, incentives for high-value industries, and renewed focus on human capital through initiatives like the National TVET Council and the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint.”
Wong said the focus now is integration, by connecting HR, payroll, and workspace so firms can move faster without losing structure.
“Integration, not acceleration, will define Malaysia’s next phase of competitiveness.
“Integration means connecting the systems that make work possible, from HR to payroll to workspace into one framework that enables speed without losing structure.”
She said INFINITY8 is responding to what it sees when companies enter or expand within Malaysia, where a recurring pattern is that businesses grow in ambition but not in alignment.
“Having worked with hundreds of companies entering and expanding within Malaysia, the organisation recognised a recurring pattern where businesses were growing in ambition but not in alignment.
“INFINITY8’s office-to-HR ecosystem represents a new kind of business infrastructure that supports Malaysia’s ambition to build an integrated, future-ready economy.”
She said the ecosystem links workspace, recruitment, HR management, payroll, and Employer-of-Record services within one framework, including support from hiring to onboarding, statutory handling, and automated payroll.
“By connecting workspace, recruitment, HR management, payroll, and Employer-of-Record (EOR) services within one seamless framework, it reflects the country’s shift toward smarter, more connected growth.
“Statutory submissions and contracts are handled seamlessly, while payroll is automated for transparency and accuracy.”
She explained that the approach is meant to support consistency and compliance confidence for larger corporations, while reducing complexity and cost for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
“For larger corporations, it creates operational consistency and compliance confidence as they expand across regions.
“For SMEs, it reduces the complexity and cost of managing multiple vendors, freeing up resources to focus on customers and product quality.”
Wong added that it also aims to deliver greater transparency and stability for employees, and operational readiness within a week for international firms expanding into Malaysia.
“For employees, it delivers greater transparency and stability, ensuring that pay, benefits, and workplace conditions are handled efficiently and fairly.
“For international firms expanding into Malaysia, the EOR service enables full operational readiness within a week.”
She said Malaysia can lead ASEAN’s next phase of growth if businesses operate as connected ecosystems rather than isolated functions.
“But to realise this potential, businesses must operate as connected ecosystems, not isolated functions.”
