The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Malaysia’s lead agency in digital transformation, welcomes the unveiling of the National Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Policy, announced recently by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Economic Affairs, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).
MDEC will continue to push digital adoption with prominence on 4IR technologies in the areas of skills, interconnectivity, governance and innovation. One of the key initiatives launched by MDEC in 2020, DataKITA, is to raise the availability, accessibility and usability of data in Malaysia’s society and economy.
This will be achieved via four key pillars; knowledge, infrastructure, talent and action. DataKITA will help businesses jumpstart their data transformation journey through a structured approach – leveraging data literacy, data analytics, governance, data sharing and artificial intelligence (AI).
On the use of the Internet of Things (IoT), AI and Big Data Analysis (BDA), MDEC has conducted successful pilot projects across Malaysia in the area of agriculture via its eLadang AgTech initiative. It has seen farmers adopting an IoT-enabled fertigation system that has helped them to reduce monthly fertiliser usage by 20%, lower monthly manpower requirements by 25% and increase the quality of yield (Grade A chillies) by up to 90%.
Current key Digital AgTech initiatives by MDEC such as the eLadang programme has successfully benefitted 548 participants as of December 2019. Of this, 78 farmers have utilised digital farming technology leading to a 20% increase in productivity and a 30% income increment as well as a reduction in operating cost by 30%. Three digital labs were also formed to train, certify and drive digital technology adoption in farming.
MDEC also recently launched the MyDigitalWorkForce Work In Tech (MYWiT) initiative, training and hiring incentive programme aimed at boosting the digital business services sector as well as developing quality tech talents in Malaysia.
Under this programme, the Digital Tech Apprenticeship (DTA) initiative will enable upskilling of Malaysians for high demand tech jobs in areas such as Data Science, Software Development, Cybersecurity and other emerging tech such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), AI and Blockchain.
The Chairman of MDEC stated that the agency welcomes this important policy that will serve to guide the nation on its journey towards harnessing and leveraging on 4IR technologies. MDEC has begun implementing various initiatives on this front, with proof of concept and successful pilot projects achieved such as in the area of AgTech.
4IR must serve the benefit of the people and nation, he said, in line with the vision of Malaysia 5.0, a nation deeply integrated with technology, providing equitable digital opportunities to the people and businesses, as well as echoing the goals of the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.
The CEO of MDEC noted that the agency is fully supportive of this policy and will continue to place emphasis on the promotion, development and adoption of 4IR technologies across its initiatives.
All the various divisions within MDEC are in tune with the policy and MDEC looks forward to working closely with various stakeholders to push the needle forward in benefit of the digital economy in line with the goals as set forth in the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDIGITAL), establishing Malaysia as the Heart of Digital ASEAN.
