KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 28): In this week’s cover story, we delve into a pressing issue that has long gripped the electrical and electronics (E&E) industry: the shortage of skilled talent.

Even as Malaysia positions itself as a hub for high-tech semiconductors and E&E, the competition for qualified professionals has only intensified, with the challenge not just attracting talent but also nurturing local expertise to fill critical roles that drive innovation and growth.

To understand the nuances of this issue, The Edge spoke with key industry leaders, including InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian, ViTrox Corp Bhd co-founders Datuk Chu Jenn Weng and Steven Siaw Kok Tong, as well as some academicians.

Industry experts highlight that the shortage is not merely about numbers; it reflects a deeper issue of skill alignment. They stress the importance of collaboration between educational institutions and industry players to ensure that graduates are equipped with the skills needed in today’s tough job market.

This includes a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and hands-on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes that prepare students for real-world challenges.

The Edge also interviewed Datuk Seri Chet Singh Karam Singh, Penang Development Corporation's (PDC) first and longest-serving general manager, who played a pivotal role in Penang’s industrial transformation.

The 88-year-old, who has largely kept out of the public eye in recent years, shares valuable perspectives from his long tenure in the industry, including how Penang — struggling with high unemployment in the 1979s — has now become a battleground for talent in the E&E sector.

At the same time, The Edge also spoke to Zairil Khir Johari, the state executive councillor for infrastructure and transport in the Penang government, about plans to address the infrastructure problems facing the state following the inflow of investments into the E&E space.

Read more about it in The Edge Malaysia weekly’s Sept 30 edition.

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