MELAKA - Malaysian universities must urgently equip graduates with specialised skills in emerging technologies to meet the demands of global technology giants, including Google, which has announced plans to invest USD15 billion in the country.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Alphabet and Google president and chief investment officer Ruth Porat had praised the capabilities, discipline and work ethic of Malaysian graduates but stressed the need for greater specialisation in certain fields.
He said higher education institutions must strengthen training in rapidly advancing technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, to ensure graduates could capitalise on new employment opportunities and secure better wages.
"We must place greater emphasis on skills and expertise because without technology and technical capabilities, Malaysia cannot become a developed nation. Many new fields are emerging rapidly.
"Universities must therefore continue providing training to meet industry needs. Ultimately, we want our young people to earn significantly better wages and gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies that can help position Malaysia among the region’s most advanced nations,” he said at the Prime Minister's Golden Hand Awards 2026 ceremony at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) here today.
Also present were Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek.
Yesterday, Google announced plans to invest USD15 billion in Malaysia between 2027 and 2028 to expand its digital infrastructure, including developing data centre campuses in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, to meet growing demand for AI and cloud computing services.
Elaborating, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said he had asked Porat about the skills required to support the company's investment.
"I asked her what was needed following the investment. She praised the achievements, discipline and knowledge of our young people, saying they were hardworking and qualified, but stressed the need for additional expertise in specific fields.
"University and college leaders must respond immediately to ensure our graduates are not only adequately trained to meet industry requirements but also continuously upgrade their skills,” he said.
Anwar said Porat had also cited Malaysia's political stability and clear government policies as key factors behind Google’s investment decision.
"I asked her to speak frankly about our strengths and weaknesses. She said Malaysia was stable, with no riots or frequent changes of government as in the past, and that this gave investors confidence,” he said. - BERNAMA