PETALING JAYA: The equipment manufacturing industry in the country has been urged to make advanced technology equipment for other local industries aside from the semiconductor sector.
At the launch of the Advanced Technology Equipment Cluster (Atec) in George Town, Penang yesterday, Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong (pic) said the equipment sub-sector should be seen as an important driver in the creation of high-value Malaysian companies.
“The equipment sector should not stop short at just making equipment for the semiconductor sector.
“I visited ViTrox Agritech at Ara Kuda, Tasek Gelugor, yesterday and witnessed how technology for the semiconductor sector can be applied to precision agriculture.
“For Malaysia to be an advanced economy, we need to adopt, automate and innovate technologies so as to reduce dependence on unskilled foreign labour in all sectors,” said Liew.
Industries that can benefit from the equipment manufacturing sector include agriculture, furniture, construction and oil palm plantation through automation.
With support from the local equipment manufacturing industry, the semiconductor sector is already relatively automated, Liew explained.
It is now time for the Malaysian semiconductor industry to also foster horizontal linkages as it is already very well connected vertically to the global supply chain, Liew added.
“This will enable the semiconductor industry to design and invent chips that solve Malaysia’s problems in health, food security, transport or green transition, just as the equipment makers are making equipment beyond the semiconductor industry,” he said.
“Only with innovations that solve our national and regional problems can we create products that would improve the lives of millions of ordinary people.”
