The government has identified sectors likely to be impacted by AI adoption and is enhancing training programmes to prepare the workforce for technological change.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has identified sectors that are expected to be affected by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and is stepping up efforts to improve skills and training to ensure the workforce is prepared to face the technological changes, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.
He said some existing jobs are likely to transform as new technology is adopted, and that the government is taking early steps to help workers adapt to these changes.
“We have already identified which sectors will be affected, and we are now in the process of ensuring that we can improve their skills in terms of upskilling and reskilling,” he told reporters after launching the FIDE Forum report titled “From Oversight to Advantage: How Boards can Accelerate AI Adoption in Malaysia’s Financial Institutions” today.
Gobind said that, apart from addressing the impact on existing jobs, the government is also paying attention to the new job opportunities that AI will create, which require different skills and expertise.
In this regard, he said the government is formulating a strategy to ensure that educational institutions, universities, and skills training centres can meet the growing talent needs of the AI era.
He said the efforts not only focus on students and new graduates but also involve existing employees by developing easily accessible learning modules to help them improve their knowledge and skills related to AI.
He said this is important to ensure that Malaysians can take advantage of new technologies more effectively and to prevent them from being left behind as AI becomes more widely used across multiple economic sectors.
Gobind said the initiative is in line with Malaysia’s aspiration to become an AI nation by 2030, which requires readiness in talent, digital infrastructure, and a comprehensive technology ecosystem.
Meanwhile, he said the national AI governance framework being developed will not take over the role of existing regulators, but will instead complement their efforts to manage the challenges and opportunities posed by AI technology.
“Sectors such as finance, medicine and other professions each have their own regulatory institutions, and the National AI Office will work with relevant parties to ensure that the development of AI technology is in line with national needs and security aspects,” he said.
Meanwhile, a report by FIDE Forum and Accenture Malaysia launched today stated that while 71% of banks in Malaysia have implemented at least one AI application, only 17% of financial institutions have successfully implemented strategic AI initiatives on a larger scale.
The report also found that none of the participating financial institutions had achieved full AI integration at the enterprise level, while talent shortages, legacy technology infrastructure, governance gaps and limited AI literacy levels among board members were identified as key challenges hindering the widespread adoption of AI.
