During the recent International Forum on Disability Management (IFDM) 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland, NIDMAR was pleased to finalize its renewed and expanded education and certification agreement with PERKESO, Malaysia’s Federal Social Security Agency.
The agreement extends the partnership through 2031 and broadens its reach to include Japan, China, and Tanzania, in addition to the ASEAN countries already served under the collaboration.
To mark this significant milestone, Dr. Mohamed Azman, CEO of PERKESO, travelled from Kuala Lumpur for a brief but impactful 24-hour visit to attend the signing ceremony and deliver a presentation highlighting Malaysia’s leadership in advancing Return to Work (RTW) and Disability Management (DM) outcomes. Over the past two decades, Malaysia has established itself as a global leader in this field, with 723 Certified Disability Management Professionals (CDMPs) working across a wide range of sectors and industries.
As a leading force in Disability Management across Southeast Asia and beyond, PERKESO continues to strengthen capacity throughout the region. Through its Disability Management Education and Certification Centre at the University of Malaya, CDMP examinations have been successfully delivered to candidates from China, Australia, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, and most recently, Cambodia. Indonesia alone is now home to nearly 70 CDMPs.
Malaysia’s success demonstrates the value of recognizing Disability Management education and certification as a critical workforce skill. By investing in qualified professionals and implementing early intervention, Return to Work, and Disability Management policies and practices, organizations can reduce claim durations and disability-related costs while improving productivity, workforce participation, and organizational competitiveness. Most importantly, these efforts help ensure that workers experiencing physical or mental health impairments have the best possible opportunity to remain active participants in both the workplace and their communities.
The Malaysian experience illustrates how visionary leadership and sustained investment in Disability Management can deliver meaningful economic and social outcomes for workers, employers, and society as a whole.
NIDMAR extends its sincere appreciation to the four Board members who attended IFDM 2026 and helped support this important occasion. Their participation contributed to a milestone achievement that will further strengthen Disability Management education and certification across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Pictured Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Dr. Herbert Biggs, Bert Blundon, Dr. Joachim Breuer, Sari Sairanen, Wolfgang Zimmermann, Dr. Mohamed Azman