No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Business & Technology
SUBSCRIBE
  • .
  • Thought Leadership
  • Conversations
  • International Voices
  • News
  • Wealth
  • Digital Transformation
  • Lifestyle
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • .
  • Thought Leadership
  • Conversations
  • International Voices
  • News
  • Wealth
  • Digital Transformation
  • Lifestyle
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
No Result
View All Result
Biztech Asia
Home Thought Leadership

Does Malaysia have enough talents to be a high-tech nation?

by editorial
25/08/20
in Thought Leadership
4 min read
0
Does Malaysia have enough talents to be a high-tech nation?

By Ameen Kamal

In Malaysia’s efforts to pursue becoming the widely touted ‘high-income’, ‘high-tech’, digitally-transformed nation to embrace the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), we have to address the huge white-elephant in the room: Malaysian student’s low rate of uptake in technical courses, and in courses related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

This decline is not new. In May, education minister, Mohd Radzi Md Jidin noted that the ministry is aware of the rapid decline in the interest of STEM subjects which had been observed year-on-year and is trying to address the issue.

If the trend continues in this trajectory, it will cause a severe mismatch in the supply of STEM talents despite the need for STEM-related advancements and rapid development of the digital industry.

In the near-to-mid term, it is foreseeable that the issue would negatively impact the uptake and utilisation of the various supporting initiatives that promote not only the effective use of technologies, but its development and production.

Obviously, this reflects a poor (and decreasing) interest amongst Malaysia’s younger generation in fundamental fields that are crucial for a nation to thrive as it undergoes a digital transformation and embraces 4IR.

As mentioned by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on August 19 during the launching of the National Technology Innovation Sandbox – one of the key initiatives under the Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana) – Malaysia needs to be a high-tech country to become a high-income nation.

To do so, we must address all parts of the ecosystem, particularly the foundation of an innovative and technologically advanced nation i.e. its people.

Innovation and technology are not just fancy words; they are a culture. The raw currency for the success of supporting initiatives are the high number of researchers, technology developers, innovators and start-up founders in relevant fields. The forgers of the raw materials to produce this valuable currency are the education system and the embedded culture.

As mentioned by Dr Mohd Radzi, “Education is a timeline, starting from primary, secondary to tertiary education.”

In the broader sense using a commercial analogy, this ‘timeline’ is part of a key component of the supply chain.

Both supply and demand are parts of the circular innovation/digital economy supply chain and one is justified to argue a higher focus on a particular portion. In view of the over-utilised ‘chicken-and-egg’ argument, it is important to acknowledge that both parts are crucial, but at the same time recognise that one part is clearly the foundation whilst the other is the support environment.

If the numbers of STEM talents, technocrats and innovators continue to be persistently low, Malaysia would get caught in the adopter trap. Indeed, a reasonable first step is to ensure Malaysia adopts the best technologies, but a more sustainable way is to eventually become a value-added user and better yet, a technology producer as well.

As indicated by the Prime Minister, history had shown that the strength of a country’s economy and military is contingent on its mastery of technology.

However, effective adoption is only the first part of mastery, and must not be confused with mere consumption.

From the perspective of the Digital Adoption Index (DAI) – a worldwide index that measures countries’ digital adoption amongst the people, government, and business – although the use of digital services such as e-commerce and internet banking is increasing, these numbers still remain relatively low, according to a BNM article in 2018.

Furthermore, we can take internet usage as a gross indicator to gauge where Malaysians are at, as a value-added ‘adopter’. The BNM article showed that the majority of internet usage in Malaysia is limited to the consumption of content rather than productive activities.

As an example, 81.2 percent of Malaysia’s internet users download media and play games (indicating a strong focus on entertainment), while an embarrassingly small percentage engage in productive activities such as professional networking (9.1 percent), content creation (11.8 percent) and learning from formal online courses (4.8 percent).

These are worrying statistics and we have to make a course-correction now in order to avoid a situation of “first-class infrastructure with third-world mentality”. Those days should be over by now.

Malaysia is very capable in coming up with the best initiatives to help promote the development of the necessary infrastructure and policies, but ensuring these initiatives would continuously be utilised, improved upon and create real value requires our education system to produce a sustainable supply of technocrats and innovators.

This means that Malaysia has to ensure that popularisation of STEM, ideas of innovation, and the technocratic-entrepreneurial spirit are inculcated from primary and secondary education. This is where interest to pursue related courses at the tertiary level is ‘organically’ grown.

Significant exposure to real-world applications at higher education level can further drive the passion in technology and innovation and in turn would assist in driving interest to pursue further research and/or the venturing into commercialisation.

It is at this stage of the ‘supply chain’ that Malaysia’s various support initiatives that promote both high-end research and innovation such as the recently launched NTIS would come in handy.

In the long run, a critical mass of experts in technology and the high number of successful technology companies would provide the much-needed self-sustaining feedback loop, which, from the funding perspective can come in the form of (but not limited to) private equity investments, grants, and technocrat ‘angel’ investors. A combination of healthy proportions of both government funds and private financing is also key to ensure a more sustainable innovation ecosystem.

Higher numbers of technology businesses may also contribute to increasing product off-take for new technology products and services. These complements and completes the circular supply chain of the technology/innovation ecosystem. Supply of innovators (push-factor) create more demand, and the increased demand (pull-factor) drives the production of more innovation and innovators.

Any forms of masterplans or national-level initiatives would be incomplete without a strong two-way linkage between ministries involved in both the support of talents and in the supply of talents. It is worth considering a new shift in policy framework where ALL parts of the society are put at the heart of digital transformation and IR 4.0.

Understandably, forging innovators and instilling new techno-centric mindset and culture is a monumental challenge and require a relatively longer time unlike shorter-term support-based initiatives.

 Ameen Kamal is the Head of Science & Technology at EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.

Previous Post

Malaysians are more likely to value reputation with regard to property developers

Next Post

Free ports status: Resetting economic growth strategy

editorial

editorial

Related Posts

Cloud technology will help financial institutions prosper post-Covid
Thought Leadership

Cloud technology will help financial institutions prosper post-Covid

Asia-Pacific REITs: Past, present, and future
Thought Leadership

Asia-Pacific REITs: Past, present, and future

Facebook bans Trump
Thought Leadership

Lighting and Volt, Fed and yields

The dilemma of politics, pandemic and economy in the US and Malaysia
Thought Leadership

The dilemma of politics, pandemic and economy in the US and Malaysia

Way forward for Malaysia: Human Transformation, Institutional Reformation, and Technology Revolution
Thought Leadership

Way forward for Malaysia: Human Transformation, Institutional Reformation, and Technology Revolution

Asian equities: Greater than the sum of its parts
Thought Leadership

Asian equities: Greater than the sum of its parts

Next Post
Free ports status: Resetting economic growth strategy

Free ports status: Resetting economic growth strategy

Visa launches ‘Where You Shop Matters’ campaign to encourage consumers support local businesses

Visa launches 'Where You Shop Matters' campaign to encourage consumers support local businesses

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Recommended Stories

Budget 2021 – Considerate, sufficiency yet to be seen

Budget 2021 – Considerate, sufficiency yet to be seen

Nokia to deploy first commercial 5G standalone for enterprise customers

Nokia to deploy first commercial 5G standalone for enterprise customers

Corruption – rooting out the mother of all evils in our nation

Corruption – rooting out the mother of all evils in our nation

Popular Stories

  • Economic recovery: an elusive thought?

    Economic recovery: an elusive thought?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Cannibalising your business can be profitable

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sexual fulfillment builds confidence and well-being

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Tech Stocks – Ant gets stomped on but REITS offer stability amid volatility

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Singapore REITS and China tech stocks – Which should you buy?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

About Us

A Business and Technology digital publication that engages business leaders in business and technology conversations to help everyone pivot, adapt, and thrive in these turbulent times.

LEARN MORE »

Contact Us

Phone: 016-2011 050

Email: editor@biztech.asia

Address:
Level 18, Boutique Office 1 (B01-C)
Menara 2, No. 3, Jalan Bangsar,
KL Eco City, 59200, Kuala Lumpur.

Email Newsletter

Loading

© 2020 Business & Technology - made possible by Milestones Digital.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Thought Leadership
  • Conversations
  • International Voices
  • News
  • Wealth
  • Digital Transformation
  • Lifestyle
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Login
  • Sign Up

© 2020 Business & Technology - made possible by Milestones Digital.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms bellow to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter

There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again.

will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.