Pos Malaysia launches an autonomous vehicle pilot to boost efficiency, with a focus on internal routes and no job losses, supported by RM50 million in funding
SHAH ALAM: Pos Malaysia’s autonomous vehicle is expected to enhance productivity and operational efficiency in handling postal items, particularly within internal facility operations, before being rolled out to the next phase.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the initiative is a progressive step in modernising the operations of the national postal service in line with current technological developments.
“This project is the first of its kind in Malaysia’s postal sector, opening opportunities for the country to explore wider use of autonomous vehicles in the future.
“We recognise that the mail delivery sector is facing significant challenges as a legacy service, but the shift towards a more sustainable business model must be supported to ensure continuity of services,” he said.
He told a press conference after launching Pos Malaysia’s autonomous vehicle and witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pos Malaysia and ALS to implement a proof of concept (POC) project at the National Mail Centre.
Fahmi explained that the initiative involves not only Pos Malaysia but also cross-ministry and agency collaboration, including the Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, MIMOS, Digital Nasional Berhad, and other strategic partners.
On the POC project, he said Pos Malaysia will conduct tests of the autonomous vehicle at the National Mail Centre for three to six months while awaiting full approval from the Ministry of Transport.
Fahmi said the initial use of autonomous vehicle will focus on intermediate routes, such as from the mail centre to major post offices, rather than direct home deliveries.
He added that the success of the project depends on the readiness of digital infrastructure, including robust 5G coverage, in line with the government’s plan to develop a national digital infrastructure policy to safely and effectively support future technologies.
He also assured that the introduction of this technology will not result in job losses, stressing the government’s firm stance on safeguarding workers’ welfare.
“The adoption of technology must go hand in hand with efforts to preserve employment, possibly through retraining and upskilling, so that workers can perform more complex tasks,” he said.
Fahmi also reminded all sectors not to use technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation as an excuse for large-scale layoffs.
On government support, he said the Ministry of Communications has allocated RM50 million to assist Pos Malaysia in fulfilling its Universal Service Obligation (USO), particularly for nationwide mail delivery.
The fund, he said, will be disbursed pending the establishment of the Postal Services Fund, which is expected to be operational in the third quarter of this year under the supervision of the ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
