MELAKA: Public universities and training institutes must swiftly adapt their curricula to provide graduates with the specialised skills demanded by major tech giants like Google and Infineon, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking a day after Google committed to a RM61bil investment in Malaysia, Anwar noted that while international investors are impressed with the quality and work ethic of local graduates, a gap remains in advanced technical expertise.
“If you ask the giants with investments worth billions of ringgit, like Infineon in Kedah, Nvidia in Johor, and Google and Microsoft in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Melaka, they generally say our young people are disciplined, hardworking, and qualified," Anwar said during his speech at the Majlis Anugerah Tangan Emas Perdana Menteri at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) on Thursday (Nov 5).
"However, they must be given additional specialisation in their disciplines. This must be answered urgently by the leadership of universities, training institutes, and colleges so that our young workforce meets industry needs," he added.
Illustrating the scale of the demand, Anwar highlighted that Infineon alone requires 3,000 engineers and semi-engineers in Kedah trained in core engineering alongside emerging disciplines like artificial intelligence (AI).
Recounting a recent discussion with Google’s president and chief investment officer Ruth Porat, Anwar said the company emphasised upskilling in high-tech domains such as quantum computing and AI.
"I asked her what else they needed, and she said they need further training to ensure the level of specialisation and expertise is enhanced," Anwar said, adding that he urged Porat to collaborate directly with local universities, including Universiti Malaya, to design targeted courses.
"If they need 10,000 people in specific fields, universities must adjust quickly to accommodate those demands," he emphasised.
Anwar noted that specialised training extends beyond the tech sector, referencing a Japanese logistics hub he launched in Klang earlier in the day alongside Transport Minister Anthony Loke, which also requires expertise in modern logistics operations.
Google’s overarching investment package includes initiatives aimed at upskilling approximately 800,000 Malaysians by 2031 to support the country's growing digital economy.
