Kuala lumpur: The shift towards a high-productivity economy is among the government's key priorities to ensure Malaysia remains competitive amid rising costs and global challenges, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He emphasized the necessity for the nation to move beyond traditional methods and instead focus on enhancing productivity through automation, digitalisation, and innovation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid emphasized that while the government will support this transition, industry players must also collaborate with the government and embrace change. He highlighted the importance of overcoming rising costs by increasing productivity, stating that future success will depend on efficiency and agility rather than size. He remarked that in today's world, outdated methods will not secure victory in new challenges and stressed the importance of collective progress.
He delivered these remarks during his speech at the 'Government Appreciation Tea' with the business community, which was also attended by Datuk Ng Yih Pyng, president of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. As the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Ahmad Zahid also underscored the importance of fortifying a skilled workforce ecosystem through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which he described as a strategic national pathway.
In his capacity as the National TVET Council chairman, he noted that more than half of SPM holders now choose the TVET route, with graduate employability exceeding 95 percent. He insisted that the success of TVET relies not only on government efforts but also on active industry participation as a partner in talent development. The curriculum must be collaboratively developed with industry, leading to real job opportunities, and must integrate the latest technology as a learning foundation, with a focus on prioritizing local TVET trainees.
Moreover, Ahmad Zahid stressed the significance of strengthening supply chain resilience in the face of global uncertainty by avoiding overreliance on a single source, which could jeopardize the entire system. He advocated for diversifying supply sources, reinforcing regional networks, utilizing data for early warnings, and building more resilient systems.