PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is looking to deepen cooperation with China in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as it seeks to produce 60,000 highly skilled engineers for its semiconductor sector by 2030, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said closer industry involvement in skills training would be crucial as Malaysia moves into its next phase of TVET reform, known as TVET 2.0, aimed at bringing the industry closer to training and accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and renewable energy in training institutions.
“That is why for Malaysia, we have embarked on this comprehensive strategic partnership, including since 2013 in TVET,” he said at the plenary session of the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Conference and Expo broadcast live on his Facebook page yesterday.
Anwar said Malaysia had set a target of RM500bil in semiconductor investments and 60,000 highly skilled engineers under its National Semiconductor Strategy by 2030.
He said China’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, AI, robotics, industrial automation, electric vehicles, semiconductors and digital technologies offered opportunities for greater cooperation with Malaysia.
He also highlighted the Malaysia-China TVET Youth Training programme, saying it provided opportunities for young people across Asean and other emerging economies.
Anwar said Malaysia had been entrusted to lead the regional Green Jobs agenda following the Asean Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting in Bangkok last month.
Malaysia was also championing the cross-border recognition of technical certificates through the pilot Asean Digital Skills Passport, he said.
He also congratulated WorldSkills International on its 75th anniversary, saying skilled workers remained crucial to keeping modern economies running despite increasingly sophisticated machinery and software.
Meanwhile, Anwar hailed Malaysia’s 22 young competitors at the 48th WorldSkills Competition as a source of pride, stressing the importance of skilled workers to a modern, technology-driven economy.
“You have spent years practising something difficult until you could do it well. Whatever the result this week, your country is proud of you.
“Your participation here lets Malaysia test itself against the best in the world. It shows us how our standards compare and where we can improve,” he said.
Malaysia is represented by 22 young competitors across 21 skill areas at the competition, which brings together about 1,400 young professionals from more than 65 countries and regions.
Malaysia has participated in the WorldSkills Competition since 1995.
Touching on the role of youth in the economy, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said young skilled workers played a crucial role in keeping modern economies running even as machinery and software became increasingly sophisticated.
“A modern economy cannot function without the technicians who keep a semiconductor line running or an electric vehicle plant on schedule.
“The machinery may become more sophisticated. The software may become more intelligent. But somebody still has to understand how it works and know what to do when it does not,” he said.
Anwar said young people would be drawn to technical and skilled professions if they could see clear prospects for career advancement and better livelihoods.
“Our task is to make sure that it leads somewhere worth going – to skilled work and good incomes. The skill of that depth is built slowly,” he said.
The Prime Minister arrived here on Tuesday for a three-day working visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The visit, at the invitation of the Chinese government, is Anwar’s fourth visit to China since he became Prime Minister in 2022.
