KAMPAR: Students pursuing science and technology-related fields need not worry about their job prospects after graduation, as the growing influx of high-tech investments into Malaysia is creating strong demand for skilled talent, says Datuk Chang Lih Kang.
The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said demand for science and technology professionals currently exceeds the number of graduates and workers available to fill vacancies in the sector.
"One of the objectives of organising the 20th Malaysia Festival of the Minds is to assure students that there are not only sufficient job opportunities, but an abundance of them.
"We also want to share our perspective on technological advancement. Many people are concerned that technology and artificial intelligence (AI) will replace human workers. Through this outreach programme, we want to engage directly with students and explain the ministry’s views, rather than waiting for them to come to us,” he said.
Chang told reporters this after officiating the festival at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Kampar Campus on Thursday (Aug 6).
Chang said the government is working closely with universities and industry players to encourage more students to pursue science and technology disciplines, ensuring Malaysia has a sufficient talent pipeline to support the expanding high-tech sector.
"This is not merely rhetoric. We are witnessing a significant influx of high-tech, high-value investments into Malaysia, and we need more science and technology talent to fill these positions,” he said.
In a separate development, Chang announced that the government has allocated RM92mil from the Malaysia Science Endowment (MSE), while five industry partners have contributed RM93mil, bringing the total investment to RM185mil to strengthen Malaysia’s advanced packaging technology capabilities over the next two years.
He said the initiative reflects the government’s matching-fund approach, under which industry shares the responsibility of developing strategic technologies.
"The government is contributing RM92mil, while industry is providing RM93mil. This ensures the sector does not rely entirely on government funding.
"There are challenges, particularly in terms of funding and the complexity of developing this technological capability. However, we are confident the target can be achieved within two years,” he said.
The initiative, launched several months ago, aims to enhance Malaysia’s advanced packaging technology capabilities by 2028, strengthening a critical segment of the semiconductor industry’s value chain.- Bernama
