The booming digital economy in Malaysia must be inclusive, with participation from all Malaysians – including persons with disabilities and Orang Asal.
Speaking at the launch of the Gamuda AI Academy this morning, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said that while it is important to drive the digital agenda in Malaysia’s pursuit of artificial intelligence (AI) excellence and boost the nation’s digital economy, no one should be left behind.
“Earlier this week, I attended two events, one related to women in tech, and the other on AI technical and vocational education and training (TVET). I spoke about the need to encourage and inspire young girls, youths, and persons with disabilities to pursue AI and other tech-related courses and career paths to support the government’s mission to build a high-quality and inclusive digital workforce,” said Gobind.
“I would like to reinforce this call for inclusiveness by bringing your attention to the Ministry of Digital’s ‘AI Untuk Rakyat’ initiative. Launched in January this year, over 1.3 million Malaysians have participated in this ongoing online AI awareness programme.
“I wish to highlight that ‘AI Untuk Rakyat’ is dyslexia- and blind-friendly. These options are available once you log in to the website.”
Gobind highlighted Gamuda and Google’s initiatives that promoted an inclusive work culture. The academy is an initiative by Yayasan Gamuda and Google.
“I commend the work carried out by these two organisations (Gamuda and Google). I hope that both your organisations take it a step further through the academy.
“I would like to see increased interest and participation in AI-related lessons among our youths, especially young girls, and across all communities, including the Orang Asal, nationwide.
“I would also like to see people with disabilities being offered a chance to pursue a career in the tech world and to narrow the digital gap. They should be empowered to contribute to the talent pool who can then assist businesses to embrace and use AI and other digital technologies to enhance their operations,” he added.
Gobind said the Ministry of Digital has several ongoing initiatives related to talent development. They include the Premier Digital Tech Institutions (PDTI) programme by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) that helps bridge the gap in the supply and demand of workers by working with academia and the industry.
“Equipping our youths with the right skills, especially in this digital era, is also something our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is very concerned about, as he has repeatedly called for more AI-related lessons and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in schools and other learning institutions.
“Public-private partnerships are pivotal in strengthening the digital ecosystem in Malaysia. I am pleased that Gamuda, a leader in the engineering and construction industry, and a global technology player like Google, are deeply invested in local talent growth,” he added.
