Kuala lumpur: The Malaysia Digital 2030 Action Plan (MD2030) needs to focus on high-value sectors to ensure that its target of creating 500,000 digital jobs will help raise Malaysians' average income. The chief executive officer and director of the Institute for Data Innovation and Artificial Intelligence (IDEA-AI), Professor Dr Mohd Saberi Mohamad, emphasized the importance of job opportunities in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data science for offering competitive salaries.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Professor Mohd Saberi warned that failing to develop highly skilled local talent could result in an oversupply of low-paying digital jobs, with strategic positions potentially being dominated by foreign experts. He highlighted Malaysia's strong foundation to achieve the 500,000 digital jobs target through initiatives like Malaysia Digital, the National AI Action Plan 2026-2030, and the aspirations towards becoming an AI Nation by 2030. However, he stressed that success should be measured by the ability to produce highly skilled AI and digital talent capable of filling high-value positions and increasing Malaysians' income.
Despite the large number of graduates produced annually, Malaysia still faces a digital talent gap, particularly in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, data analytics, and cloud engineering. Industries report difficulties in finding workers with practical skills and real-world experience. Mohd Saberi stated that human capital development must become a priority in implementing MD2030 by strengthening STEM education, expanding digital technology training, and increasing reskilling programs.
Regarding public spending, Mohd Saberi mentioned that the government's target of achieving RM4.5 billion in savings through GovTech initiatives is attainable by transforming work processes. However, reliance on legacy systems across government agencies remains a significant technical challenge. For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), AI could reduce business operating costs, but the lack of knowledge and implementation strategies is a critical obstacle for business owners.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Associate Professor Dr Mohd Shahizan Othman from the Faculty of Computing noted the challenge for higher education institutions to ensure graduates are not left behind by rapid technological developments. MD2030 data shows only 39 per cent of workers have a high level of familiarity with AI tools. TalentCorp projections indicate that around 620,000 workers could be affected by shifts in economic and technological landscapes, highlighting the need for added value beyond conventional academic qualifications.
Mohd Shahizan emphasized the importance of complementing the traditional degree framework with flexible micro-credentials to keep pace with industry evolution. He suggested a curriculum with stable foundational knowledge and application-based content updated regularly through electives, industry projects, micro-credentials, professional certifications, and apprenticeships. He noted that the employability challenge is due to graduates' inability to apply theoretical knowledge to solve complex workplace problems.
On June 29, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched MD2030, a national roadmap for 2026-2030, marking a shift from being a technology consumer to a producer of home-grown innovation. The roadmap outlines national targets, including increasing the digital economy's GDP contribution to 30 per cent, creating 500,000 high-value jobs in the digital economy, achieving RM4.5 billion in public sector savings through digitalization, and ensuring 95 per cent of government services are available online through fully end-to-end digital processes.