Outlining NHRD as Practiced in Malaysia in its National Planning Context

National Human Resource Development (NHRD) has been an emerging research agenda that reshaped the traditional view of HRD. NHRD literature adds many country case studies in building NHRD theory. Malaysia as a progressing country implements key programs relating to human resource development. Thus, before undergoing a detailed study into NHRD planning and execution, it is worthwhile to study the NHRD planning context, content and focus of, and term/s used for NHRD in Malaysia. A qualitative research design, using grounded theory method for data analysis was employed in this investigation. It was found that Malaysia’s NHRD planning system is well established to include people development missions that aimed at national development, especially economic development, evolved gradually to Human Capital Development (HCD)as currently in use. This revelation is significant in bridging the NHRD theory gap within Malaysia’s context and help NHRD theory building process. Further, this new insight will help policy makers to take decisions regarding Malaysia’s NHRD in a more focused manner.