Kuala lumpur: Malaysia must transition from being primarily a trading nation to establishing itself as a technology-driven nation by aligning capital, policy, and industry, according to Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong. This strategic shift aims to unlock the full potential of the country's existing advanced capabilities.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Liew emphasized the importance of this alignment during his opening remarks at The BIG Programme: Corporate Innovation Forum, organized by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd. He noted that Malaysia already possesses sophisticated capabilities, particularly in the semiconductor sector. However, these capabilities have mostly developed in vertical alignment with multinational corporations, without substantial horizontal integration within the industrial ecosystem.

Liew highlighted the necessity of connecting advanced industries like semiconductors with other sectors, such as medical devices, factory equipment, developers, and potentially defense and agriculture. This connection would involve incorporating technology and equipment into these industries, thereby fostering a more integrated and robust technological ecosystem.

The Deputy Finance Minister underscored that the current priority should be to link these advanced capabilities across various sectors, ensuring that Malaysia is well-positioned to organize itself technologically and achieve greater economic success.