Building The Future Through Talent: Huawei Malaysia Advances 5G, AI And Connectivity
By Engku Shariful Azni Engku Ab Latif
KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- As Malaysia’s 5G rollout seeks to balance technological advancement with readiness, Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Huawei Malaysia) has stepped up its talent development efforts to support effective implementation in the digital era.
Huawei Malaysia chief executive officer Simon Sun said the company has established 53 ICT Academies across public and private universities in Malaysia to equip students with practical skills in 5G, cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
He said the group has already trained over 54,000 Malaysians in digital skills, exceeding their 2025 target of 50,000, through the platform under the Huawei ASEAN Academy.
Among the initiatives is the Digital Leadership Excellence (DLE) Programme with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) which was launched in 2024 to cultivate 300 digital leaders by 2026.
Sun said the programme is a direct response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call at the 2023 Malaysia ICT Summit hosted by Huawei Malaysia to provide leaders with the extra niche to lead their respective organisations down the path of digital excellence.
“Participants include senior leaders from government, academia and industry, where the first cohort (50 participants) completed an eight-month programme, including a Shenzhen study visit in October 2024.
"The second cohort (60 participants) completed in June 2025, while the third (66 participants) completed in October 2025," he told Bernama.
Besides this, Sun said the company launched the Huawei Malaysia AI Talent Programme, aimed at nurturing 30,000 Malaysian AI talents, comprising students, government officials, industry leaders, think tanks, associations and others under this initiative in the coming three years.
He said the group plans to nurture 200 local AI partners through engagements, knowledge transfers as well as Cloud and AI solution collaborations with top AI companies from China.
Sun said the recently launched Technical Vocational Education and Training JTM (Manpower Department)-Huawei Learning Centre at Institut Latihan Perindustrian (ILP) Kuala Lumpur, aimed to equip TVET trainers and graduates with hands-on training in ICT technologies, with 1,500 trainees having been trained to date.
"As regulations evolve and competition grows, Huawei Malaysia will continue to invest responsibly, engage openly and grow together with Malaysia," he said.
Huawei Malaysia CSR Efforts: Connecting The Communities, Protecting Rainforest
While supporting national aspirations towards a digitalised era, Huawei Malaysia continues to connect the dots and empower communities through the use of technology for positive social impact.
Sun said one of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts - the Rainforest Guardian Research Project in Sarawak, partnered with the Sarawak Multimedia Authority, Forest Department of Sarawak and Sarawak Forestry Corporation, helps to protect Sarawak’s rainforests.
He said the project involves the use of solar-powered devices equipped with microphones and antennas that collect sound data which then transmit the data through wireless networks to the cloud, where it is analysed by AI-powered analytics.
"When the sound signature of a potential threat such as a chainsaw, truck or gunshot is detected (with AI), an alarm is generated, showing the location of the respective Rainforest Guardian in an app, which allows local rangers to quickly mobilise and seek out the source of the alert.
"These devices have triggered 271 alerts in the last three years, underscoring how technology can play a pivotal role in safeguarding Malaysia’s rich biodiversity," he said.
Sun said Huawei Malaysia also launched their CSR initiative in Pahang in 2022, the Huawei RuralStar Pro, together with Celcom Axiata Bhd, to overcome technical challenges and connect remote areas that lack access to good communication infrastructure.
Huawei RuralStar Pro uses wireless technology that does not require a line-of-sight to connect to a nearby telecommunications transmitter tower, making it cost-effective and ideal for the rural landscape.
Sun said Huawei RuralStar Pro focuses on providing 4G LTE connections in rural areas, similar to those in the city, and only requires two solar panels to supply energy to the entire operating system, providing voice calls and internet.
“Whether it is protecting Malaysia’s rainforests, empowering digital talent, or supporting national connectivity goals, Huawei Malaysia is committed to creating long-term value for people, communities and the environment.
“As technology continues to shape the future, we remain focused on ensuring that progress is inclusive, responsible and sustainable for all,” he said.
-- BERNAMA