1. YBhg. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin
Chief Statistician of Malaysia, DOSM
2. Mr. Amir Sohrabi
Regional Vice President of ASEAN & Korea, SAS
3. Mr. Febrianto Siboro
Managing Director of Malaysia, Indonesia & Vietnam, SAS
4. Mr. Raymond Siva
Head & Senior Vice President of Digital Investment, MDEC
5. Dr. Han Chong Hwee
Group Chief Risk Officer, RHB Bank
6. Ms. Lisa Chuah
Regional Head Enterprise Risk, CIMB Bank Berhad
7. Mr. Eugene Low
General Manager, Hong Leong Bank
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
Good morning and Salam Malaysia MADANI.
1. Thank you for having me here today as we mark a significant milestone not just for SAS Institute Malaysia, but for our nation’s digital future. The launch of this new regional office symbolises our shared commitment to push the boundaries of innovation, and embrace the transformative power of data.
2. Investments come in various forms. In recent times, tech giants such as AWS, Microsoft, ByteDance, Nvidia have committed billions of ringgit into establishing data centres, cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) hubs, and other facilities in Malaysia. There are also companies that have been investing in our country for decades – by expanding their operations, and hiring and training local talents. A skilled workforce, familiar with the local market, sentiments and culture, can lead to increased innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. At the community level, this can provide opportunities for locals to develop their skills and knowledge, en route to earning higher wages, enjoying better perks, and job prospects. Such an investment contributes to the overall economic development of the region, as companies are more likely to invest in localities with a skilled workforce.
3. Malaysia is on an ambitious journey towards becoming a digitally driven, high-income nation. Our Digital Economy Blueprint sets a clear target — to develop 30,000 data professionals by 2025. This goal is not just a number; it represents the future of our economy, the empowerment of our people, and the strength of our nation on the global stage.
4. Alongside developing skilled talents, exposing the average person to technology is important and we have a responsibility to promote digital literacy. We all need to know and understand technology, and how it will shape every part of our lives. AI, for example, is not merely about making our lives easier. Thus, MyDIGITAL Corporation, an agency under the Ministry of Digital, initiated the ‘AI untuk Rakyat’ programme in January this year and more than 1 million participants thus far. More such programmes are being lined up, namely ‘Data untuk Rakyat’ and ‘CyberSAFE for Rakyat’.
5. Education is key. Our Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim had recently called on schools to emphasise Science, Mathematics and English. Mastering these three subjects is crucial as classroom lessons today include elements of AI and digital technology. He added universities need to extend digital and AI courses to students outside Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics majors. The call made by the Prime Minister is timely.
6. My ministry, via the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), has embarked on AI talent development projects, where we have trained over 12,000 school children in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and computational thinking. At the tertiary level, MDEC has trained 628 lecturers in AI, while 1,665 students have participated in AI-related competitions. We are already working closely with our youths in schools and universities, and will continue to do so.
7. Such training early on is important. With the adoption of AI, there will be demands for jobs such as AI climate change analysts, AI trainers, AI cybersecurity analysts, AI healthcare diagnostics analysts and more. On top of that, there will also be new opportunities in various other tech branches like Quantum Computing, and Large Language Models.
8. We have seen a series of investments in Malaysia, and Southeast Asia, in recent times following the rapid digital transformation in the region. ASEAN’s digital economy is expected to hit USD 1 trillion by 2030. However, it is widely acknowledged that the region still lacks the talent pool in the digital sphere. We cannot rely on foreign talents alone. Efforts must be taken to ensure Malaysians are not left behind. Talent development will surely be a main subject of discourse when Malaysia assumes the ASEAN chair next year.
Ladies and gentlemen,
9. The MADANI government has taken various steps to address the digital talent shortage in the country. MDEC, for example, has the Premier Digital Tech Institutions (PDTI) initiative. It brings together key players from industries, universities, and other educational institutions to bridge the gap between industry demand and local talent supply. Through this strategic collaboration, the PDTI programme empowers the Government’s vision for Malaysia to become the preferred hub for world-class digital businesses and talents.
10. With 42 faculties and 7 polytechnics accredited, PDTI has played a pivotal role in nurturing over 50,000 graduates, achieving an impressive 95% employability rate. This initiative ensures that Malaysia's talent pipeline is continuously aligned with the evolving demands of the digital and technology sectors. We are ready to expand this initiative to more educational institutions.
11. Malaysia and India also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding that would see the development of talents. This was further strengthened with a collaboration between MDEC and India’s National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom).
12. Today, I am proud to announce a series of initiatives that are aligned with our vision of a digital Malaysia.
13. SAS Institute Malaysia is supporting MDEC’s Workforce Reskilling and Upskilling Initiative by offering discounted courses and certifications in Data Science and AI. These courses will provide our workforce with the cutting-edge skills needed to thrive in the evolving digital landscape. This is not just about keeping up with the times — it’s about leading the charge and ensuring that Malaysian talent remains competitive globally.
14. SAS is also committed to empowering higher education through its collaboration with MDEC via the PDTI programme. By providing advanced training in SAS Viya and AI to students and educators, we are ensuring that the next generation is ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow. This initiative will see 100 students and educators trained by the end of 2025, laying a strong foundation for the future of our digital economy.
15. SAS has been at the forefront of business analytics. The company also has a long-standing presence here in Malaysia - since 1986. SAS is recognised as the number one market leader in AI and Advanced Analytics, with 91, out of the top 100 Fortune 500 companies, counting themselves as SAS customers. As such, the strategic collaboration between SAS and MDEC is much welcomed.
16. I would encourage more companies to collaborate with the Ministry of Digital to create a bigger pool of talent. Education is a lifelong process, and so is keeping ourselves abreast with the latest technologies. The agencies under my Ministry, such as MDEC and MyDigital Corporation, have ongoing programmes to facilitate the process of developing local talents. I urge companies to capitalise on the existing programmes and welcome suggestions for new initiatives. Together we can create a more digitally-savvy, future-proof workforce.
Ladies and gentlemen,
17. The future of Malaysia’s digital economy is bright, but it is up to us to ensure that we harness its full potential. Together with partners like SAS, we are taking bold steps toward a future where Malaysia leads in digital innovation, where our workforce is skilled, our students are empowered, and our nation is stronger and more resilient.
Thank you.
