GEORGE TOWN – Penang’s youth must embrace the digital transformation to fulfil industries’ demand for high-skilled workers, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in a Lunar New Year message.
Chow said the lack of interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among students is a major national concern.
“There is currently more demand than supply and industries experience difficulty hiring talents and retaining high-skilled workers.
“We need to produce graduates who are skilled and competent to meet these demands and to attract and retain foreign investments.
“While it is crucial for the younger generation to have sufficient awareness and interest in STEM education, it is also critical that opportunities are made available, not only to the urban young but also to the rural and those with disadvantaged backgrounds,” said Chow in his speech during the 88 Captains Association’s Lunar New Year luncheon at the E&O Hotel.
He said it was particularly alarming given figures from the Statistics Department, which showed that only 31.8% or 4.91 million employed persons in Malaysia are tertiary educated as of 2021.
Industries need to fully embrace automation, robotics, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and machine learning for Penang to reach greater heights, he added.
The chief minister said his wish for the Year of the Rabbit is to see a future Penang that has a digitally integrated urban lifestyle, offering more productive jobs that come with higher wages stemming from new and forward-looking industries.
Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak and his consort Toh Puan Khadijah Mohd Nor as well as senior state executive councillors attended the luncheon organised by the recently formed group 88 Captains Association, comprising of the captains of industry, trade and commerce in Penang. – The Vibes, January 25, 2023
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