AS Malaysia seeks to redefine its economic direction, its manufacturing sector stands at a crossroads. Once buoyed by low-cost labour and assembly-line efficiency, the industry now faces global headwinds in the form of automation, trade re-calibrations, and rising environmental, social, and governance (ESG) expectations from international markets.
President Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia is timely. China’s industrial evolution offers a valuable blueprint for Malaysia to follow not just in terms of technology but also in embedding ESG principles at the core of manufacturing.
