Skilled workforce crucial to unlocking Malaysia’s high-tech investment potential, says minister

PETALING JAYA, Nov 10 — Malaysia's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Chang Lih Kang, emphasized the importance of a skilled workforce to fully maximize the country's potential for high-tech investments. The nation has attracted significant capital into the high-tech sector, thanks to investments in areas such as AI, semiconductor manufacturing, smart factories and renewable energy.

Chang highlighted that while these investments have fortified Malaysia's position as the digital backbone of the Asia-Pacific region, the core of the nation's success lies in its ability to harness emerging technologies through a highly skilled workforce. "Machines do not build nations, people do," Chang said during the inauguration of Schneider Electric's Regional Training Center (RTC) in Kuala Lumpur.

He acknowledged the surge in demand for workers with technical expertise and skills in line with industry demands due to the rapid adoption of digitalisation, advanced automation, and complex electrification. Chang stressed the necessity of equipping engineers, technicians, and young TVET talents with practical, industry-relevant skills, as failing to do so could result in a workforce falling behind in the face of advancing technology.

Initiatives like Schneider Electric's RTC are crucial in closing the gap between academic education and industry requirements, preparing Malaysians for opportunities in the burgeoning digital economy. Chang further underlined that investments in human capital by industries reinforce the principle that Malaysia's greatest asset is its people, ensuring that national innovation policies translate into tangible economic outcomes.

He also pointed out that Malaysia secured the 34th position out of 139 economies in the 2026 Global Innovation Index. The country recorded over RM200 billion in approved investments in the first half of this year, with a substantial portion allocated to data centres and cloud infrastructure in Selangor and Johor. The state-of-the-art training facility can accommodate over 550 participants annually from 15 Asia-Pacific countries, providing hands-on technical exercises using operational equipment and real-world industry scenarios.

The inauguration ceremony also marked Schneider Electric's 40th anniversary in Malaysia, celebrating the company's contributions to the nation's industrial development, energy transition, and technological advancement.