Anwar: No more tech users - M'sia must become a master

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysia to move beyond being a consumer of technology and instead develop the capacity to create, own and master it as the country charts its next phase of development.

He said Malaysia was at a critical juncture, with technological capability increasingly important in tackling challenges ranging from food and energy security to public health, water resources and climate change.

"We cannot forever be users of technology created by others. We must become a nation that creates, owns and masters technology," Bernama reported him saying in his speech at the grand final of the National Science Challenge 2026 (NSC) today.

The speech was read out by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.

Anwar said these challenges were far from theoretical, adding that they required a strong foundation in knowledge as well as the confidence to make decisions based on evidence.

Against this backdrop, he said science education should go beyond memorising formulas or achieving good examination results.

"Science must shape the way we think, help us be critical towards facts, make us open to ideas, brave enough to try and honest when an attempt does not succeed," he added.

Strengthening Stem education

Anwar said Malaysia must strengthen its Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) ecosystem to develop more young talent capable of driving the country’s future growth and competitiveness.

He also said Malaysia needed to create more opportunities for young people to develop their potential through universities, research institutions, industry and startups.

“We want ideas born in schools today to grow into research, technology, innovation and enterprises that can solve real problems faced by the people and enhance Malaysia’s competitiveness globally.

“That is why the NSC should not end when the trophy is presented.

“I want the talent identified through platforms such as this to continue to be developed and given pathways to go further,” he stressed.

Anwar also called on the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, together with the Education Ministry and strategic partners, to make the NSC a continuous talent development pathway rather than merely an annual event.

He said strengthening Stem education must also be a shared responsibility involving the government, schools, universities, industry and communities to ensure young talent was not only identified, but also continuously guided and given room to grow.

Interest in Stem rising but…

Anwar mentioned that the Education Ministry’s data showed that student enrolment in Stem had increased to 50.83 percent in 2024 from 40.95 percent in 2021, although participation in pure sciences remained at about 15.8 percent.

“This shows that there is still a gap between interest in Stem and readiness to pursue it in greater depth,” he said.

Therefore, Anwar said the country’s efforts must move beyond simply encouraging more students to choose Stem to ensuring they remain in the field, develop their capabilities and succeed in it, with teachers playing a key role in sparking curiosity and building the confidence of the younger generation.

He also called for promising participants, particularly those from rural areas, Sabah and Sarawak, and low-income families, to be connected with mentors, laboratories, scholarships and innovation networks.

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