PETALING JAYA, Aug 27 — The Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry (Miti) and Higher Education Ministry will present proposals on talent development to the Finance Ministry to be included in Budget 2025 to support the nation’s development of artificial intelligence (AI).
Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said both ministries are sharing ideas and collaborating to ensure that the nation has a robust AI-ready workforce to support the booming industry.
“I’ve discussed this with Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
“We are working together to ensure talents from universities and technical and vocational education and training institutions are AI-trained to ensure when the industry adopts AI, they would have the talents ready to join the companies,” he told reporters after officiating the AI Conference 2024.
Earlier in his speech, Tengku Zafrul stressed that through the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, Malaysia aims to leverage digitalisation to create high-value jobs, enhance productivity and foster sustainable growth.
“By aiming to create 3,000 smart factories, we will ensure that manufacturers are well-equipped to adopt and integrate AI and digital tech into their operations. This, too, forms part of Malaysia’s overall AI ambitions.
“There is a strong link between the success of our AI goals and the sustainability of Malaysia’s electrical and electronic (E&E) industry,” he said.
He highlighted that Malaysia’s E&E industry now produces 13 per cent of the world’s back-end semiconductors, driving 40 per cent of the nation’s export output and contributing about 5.8 per cent to its gross domestic product in 2023.
Tengku Zafrul said as AI presents both unprecedented opportunities and unexpected challenges, the government — via key ministries and agencies as well as stakeholders — must take an active role in positioning Malaysia at the forefront of the global AI revolution.
Under the National AI Roadmap, Malaysia aims to become a global AI leader by 2030 through advancing AI research and innovation, nurturing a vibrant AI ecosystem and promoting responsible AI usage.
— Bernama
