KUALA LUMPUR: Over 100,000 technologists and technicians including those specialising in emerging technologies are currently registered under the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT), says Chang Lih Kang.
“The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) continuously strives to ensure the development of talent in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, so that these talents may be recognised and elevated to the same professional standing as other established fields such as engineering and medicine,” he said during the Minister Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 6).
He said the ministry, through the MBOT, plays a key role in empowering these talents by providing professional recognition under the Technologists and Technicians Act 2015 (Act 768).
“MBOT’s recognition goes beyond discipline-based professions and also includes multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary professions, such as robotics and AI, which as we all know require knowledge and expertise across multiple fields, strong hands-on skills, and a technological application focus,” he added.
As of October 2025, MBOT has registered a total of 107,423 technologists and technicians across 24 technology fields.
“This provides a formal pathway for technically and technologically skilled individuals to be recognised as Professional Technologists (Ts.) and Certified Technicians (Tc.),” he said.
As for academic programme accreditation, MBOT has established a specific framework for AI—enabling institutions to offer related programmes.
“Recently, several institutions have begun offering AI-related academic programmes, including Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), University College of Yayasan Pahang (UCYP), and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA).
“To promote lifelong learning, MBOT also accredits advanced short-term technology courses through the Professional Development Certification (PDC) framework. Through PDC, MBOT ensures the quality of short-term courses via a comprehensive evaluation framework, covering technical content, instructor quality, and assessment standards.
“For example, MBOT has accredited training programmes offered by providers in advanced technology fields such as integrated circuit (IC) design, semiconductors, and IoT automation. These initiatives support skilled talents in accessing high-quality lifelong learning opportunities tailored to their specific competencies, thereby enabling them to enhance their professional capabilities in emerging technology fields,” he added.
He was responding to a question by Datuk Larry Sng on the measures and initiatives that have been implemented to empower talents in emerging technologies, such as AI and robotics, so that they may be recognised on par with other professional groups, such as those in engineering, medicine, and other established professions.
