HUMAN Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong has called on Penang to empower local startups to design major components for the digitalisation software and hardware markets.
He named the effort as Penang 3.0, saying he wants the world to witness products made by Penang rather than the Penang 2.0 version of just manufacturing components for the digital world.
“We no longer want just made in Penang products. We want made by Penang designs and software to solidify our role as a leading hub for the global semiconductor market.”
Sim said this when attending the biennial InPenang International Awards gala dinner at the St Giles Wembley Hotel here.
The Penang DAP chairman, who is touted as the future chief minister of the state should the party’s alliance of Pakatan Harapan (PH) regain the state for the fifth consecutive term, spoke of the uncertainty in the global marketplace.
But the state’s economy has reflected resilience in the face of global strife.
Hence this has given Sim confidence that the state can go up a notch to a Penang 3.0 concept of designing and innovating in the cyberworld.
Sim said that Penang must bypass a sense of pessimism and cynicism, which tend to derail efforts to be progressive, and goal orientated.
While there is a global crisis to address, the state cannot have a doomsday mentality but rise to the occasion to embark on the Penang 3.0 effort, he said.
“I am confident we can do it. After all, under Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s leadership, there is much investment inflow and uplift from the federal government in terms of new infrastructure.”
Sim added that the new projects from establishing an international financial centre to the Mutiara light rail transit (LRT) system and the expansion of the international airport besides the constructing of new highways, are “game changers.” – June 22, 2025.
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