Look out for leapfrogging Malaysian HR professionals.

That is to say, HR officials in Malaysia appear to be embracing cutting-edge ideas about people management. And thanks to a fast-growing economy and related talent tussles, their expertise in fields like recruiting and succession planning may eclipse the chops of many HR pros in the West.

At least that’s the impression I get looking at the announcement of an HR conference planned for next month in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. The backdrop to the four-day Malaysia HR Congress 2007 event is an economy that grew more than 5 percent each of the past two years and is forecast to rise at a 6 percent clip this year.

“With Malaysian companies expanding to global markets and entering a knowledge-based competitive marketplace, the pressure is on to identify the right people, develop and motivate, and lastly to retain them,” the organizer of the conference, All Events Group, said in a statement.

Among the topics to be covered at the Kuala Lumpur confab include succession planning, talent management, “HR Shared Services & Outsourcing” and “Strategic Human Capital.”

Malaysian government officials are expected to be there, as are heavy-hitting global companies, including General Electric Malaysia, MasterCard and Oracle.

Earlier this year, I saw firsthand how a crucible-like business climate in China is pushing HR leaders there to learn fast. In some cases, HR programs with roots in China are being used elsewhere on the globe. A similar steep learning curve appears to be under way in nearby Malaysia.

I wouldn’t be surprised if next month’s conference is full of smart people and conversations.