From 'Made in Malaysia' to 'Made by Malaysia'
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In the Malaysian capital of George Town, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir highlighted the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs and industries, stressing the urgency of early talent development for Malaysia's economy. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, AI is expected to create 170 million new jobs globally by 2030, but could also displace 92 million.
Nasir emphasized that 86% of employers anticipate AI and data technologies transforming their operations. Malaysia must bolster its talent pipeline to adapt to the shift towards high-growth, high-value industries, particularly semiconductors.
Penang, with its robust electrical, electronics, and semiconductor ecosystem, was cited as an ideal location to pilot an integrated STEM talent model. The state experienced a 7.3% growth rate in 2025, outpacing the national average of 5.2%, with manufacturing expanding by 10%. Penang's GDP reached RM130.3 billion, contributing 48.9% of Malaysia's exports by June.
While the strong industrial base has generated high-value jobs, the challenge lies in equipping domestic talent to fill these positions. Akmal stressed that Malaysia needs to train 60,000 engineers to advance within the semiconductor value chain, from back-end to front-end activities.
The minister urged Malaysia to progress from merely "Made in Malaysia" to "Made by Malaysia," emphasizing that the focus should be on talent creating value, not just factories. STEM education should begin early in schools and continue through higher education, technical and vocational training, and industry training.
The ministry will allocate RM12.3 million over four years to Penang's STEM plan, aiming to reach 100,000 students by 2030. This program could be replicated in other states if successful. Nasir called for companies to expose students to new technologies via workplace visits and school outreach, aiming to cultivate future leaders who can drive innovation and strengthen Malaysia's position in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
