BAYAN LEPAS – Malaysia must overcome several industrial and educational challenges to move forward and elevate its status as the semiconductor hub and high-tech industrial centre in the region, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said that upskilling of existing engineering talents must be done as the country does not have enough engineers in these niche sectors, requiring institutions like the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) to provide such courses.
The prime minister also said that the number of qualified engineers in this country must be increased to meet the industrial needs, especially for design and innovation in high-technology fields.
Therefore, universities should play their role by working closely with the private sector, he said, suggesting that higher education institutions give the necessary space for the industry to come in a more aggressive manner.
Anwar also expressed his concerns about the bureaucracy in universities which causes them to “take ages” to plan new courses, making it impossible for new disciplines to be introduced in a month.
“Sometimes (creating new courses) takes a year or more since we have (to go through) the faculty, the university board of directors or the senate, and then the Higher Education Ministry and the Finance Ministry.
“This is a major challenge and (I would like) to remind Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and related centres in Penang, as well as the universities in Kedah and Perak to ensure that these new disciplines must be approved at a fast, unprecedented pace.
“This is because we are dealing with ‘post-normal’ times and we have the capacity (to do so). But we need the necessary push,” he said at the launching ceremony of Penang Silicon Design @5km+ initiative at Eastin Hotel, here.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, shared how pleasantly surprised he was when Johor-based Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) managed to approve and introduce courses on artificial intelligence (AI) within four months and urged USM to follow suit.
“USM has a longer tradition and a better sort of track record in terms of their ability to adjust and introduce new programmes as required by the industry,” he added.
The prime minister also said that Malaysia needs to identify the needs of the semiconductor and high-tech industries such as the presence of integrated circuit (IC) design firms, their confidence in the nation’s political stability and the clarity in public policies.
He also said that the relevant national policies introduced this year such as the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) and New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP) can be adjusted accordingly.
“We (Putrajaya) do not represent a view that we have all the answers and the expertise. (Therefore) we (can) make the necessary adjustments as time goes by.
“But the best way (forward is) to educate and train and upskill and reskill is to ensure that the synergy, the working collaboration between the industries and the institutions, education institutions, (are) taking place.
“..and it is important for the Education Ministry to ensure that this happens at a (fast) pace,” he stressed.
Penang Silicon Design @5km+ initiative
During the event, Anwar announced a RM50 million allocation for the Penang Silicon Design @5km+ initiative, which is to be utilised over five years.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Penang state government through its investment promotion agency InvestPenang, comprises three components – with the first one being the Penang IC Design & Digital Park at Bayan Lepas which is developed by Penang Development Corporation (PDC), offering a 1 million sqft area of hybrid office and lab space tailored for IC design, research and development (R&D) and digital companies.
The second component is the Penang Chip Design Academy established at PSDC, which provides a comprehensive Chip Design Talent Cultivation Programme aimed at upskilling and reskilling at least 500 graduates and engineers in IC-design-related fields in the next two years.
The third component is the Silicon Research and Incubation Space at GBS TechSpace, which is tailored as a one-stop innovation hub to support chip design firms by providing workspaces that feature cutting-edge infrastructure and design services.
Let’s wait for Trump’s moves
On a separate matter, Anwar also said that Malaysia would have to “wait patiently” to see what US President-elect Donald Trump’s plans are for the economy after the latter raised eyebrows with his recent warning of slapping a 100% tariff on countries that are part of intergovernmental organisation BRICS, should they try to replace the dollar with another currency.
Malaysia was accepted as a “partner country” by BRICS in late October.
“Hopefully there will be a decision (from Trump) that will help the development of all countries,” he added. – December 7, 2024