KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- The shift towards a high-productivity economy is among the government’s key priorities to ensure Malaysia remains competitive amid rising costs and global challenges, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the country can no longer rely on old approaches, but must instead address these challenges by boosting productivity through automation, digitalisation and innovation.
Ahmad Zahid said that while the government will continue to support the transition, industry players are also expected to work alongside the government and be bold in embracing change.
“We cannot fight rising costs forever. We must overcome costs with productivity through automation, digitalisation and innovation.
“The companies that will succeed in the future are not the biggest, but the most efficient and agile because in today’s world, the old ways will not win new battles, and more importantly, we must move forward together,” he said here today.
He said this in his speech at the “Government Appreciation Tea” with the business community, which was also attended by Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, also stressed the importance of strengthening a skilled workforce ecosystem through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which has now become a strategic national pathway.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council chairman, said more than half of SPM holders now choose the TVET route, with graduate employability exceeding 95 per cent.
He said the success of TVET cannot rest solely on the government, but requires active industry participation as a talent development partner.
“The curriculum must be shaped together with industry and training must lead to real jobs… the latest technology must form the foundation of learning and industry must prioritise local TVET trainees,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of strengthening supply chain resilience in the face of global uncertainty by avoiding overreliance on a single source that could pose risks to the entire system.
“We must diversify supply sources, strengthen regional networks, use data for early warning and build more resilient systems,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
