PUTRAJAYA, Sept 10 — The government will give priority to efforts to produce new, highly skilled talents in the latest technology fields through Budget 2026, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also the Minister of Finance, said that focus would be given particularly to the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and upstream semiconductors which are now urgent needs of the high-tech industry.
“This is one of our (government) priorities in this budget (Budget 2026) next month, God willing.
“We have to look back at the achievements and what is needed to provide support to accelerate at a faster pace (about) the training and well-being programmes needed to elevate the dignity and capabilities of our children,” he said when opening the 9th International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (ICOSH) here today.
Anwar said the effort was also important to support large investments by international companies such as Infineon Technologies which are investing in Kulim and Melaka, thus ensuring that Malaysia is able to provide the skilled workforce needed.
“This requires young people who are trained, of course, in the fields of engineering and AI.”
Commenting further, Anwar said the effort would be carried out through additional allocations to accelerate training programmes and the development of new talent skills in the fields of AI, digital technology and engineering.
“And the high-level fields require related agencies and ministries to emphasise the need to produce children who are well-trained and have skills that are able to meet the needs of companies like this,” he said.
According to him, the synergy cannot be tied to the academic field alone, but must be strengthened with close cooperation between universities and industry.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the need for a new, faster approach in the process of approving programme and allocations at higher education institutions (IPT) to replace the old method that was tied to bureaucracy.
“I still remember a challenge to brother Zambry (Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir) when I proposed more than two years ago that the Faculty of AI be immediately established by meeting the latest needs where usually universities are also tied (due to bureaucracy) and have to wait six months,” he said.
However, he expressed his appreciation to universities and the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) for expediting the establishment of the AI ??Faculty, thus breaking down bureaucratic obstacles that previously delayed the approval process of new programmes at IPT. — Bernama
