IR4.0 policy to increase productivity by 30%

The policy consists of 4 cores focusing on the societal, business and administration themes

by SHAHEERA AZNAM SHAH / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

THE National Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) policy is expected to improve the country’s productivity by 30% across all sectors by the end of 2030.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (picture) said the policy is a framework that will strategically steer Malaysia’s socio-economy transformation through the ethical use of the IR4.0 technologies.

“Technology is for improving the quality of life and the growth of our economy. The pandemic has changed our way of life, so the government, businesses and people must adapt to the technology and digitalisation that simplify matters in the new norms.

“The National IR4.0 policy was formulated using human approaches so that people could utilise the technology while maintaining human and social values,” he said at the policy’s virtual launch yesterday.

The policy consists of four cores focusing on the societal, business and administration themes.

“First, it aims at providing knowledge and IR4.0-related skills for the people while establishing the country’s relevance through the development of digital infrastructure.

“The policy will also provide regulations that are in accordance with the future needs of adapting to the changes in the technology and accelerate innovation and use of IR4.0 technologies,” Mustapa said.

He added that the four cores, which were drafted based on 16 strategies, 32 national initiatives and 60 sectoral initiatives, will guide the ministries and government agencies in drafting IR4.0-related programmes.

Also present at the launch was Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar who said the National IR4.0 policy was drafted in line with the National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation 2021-2030 which aims at developing Malaysia as a high-tech nation by 2030.

“The government has identified five core technologies to strengthen local ability, namely artificial intelligence (AI); Internet of Things; blockchain and distributed ledger technology; advanced materials supported by cloud computing; and big data analytics.

“As we have seen today, all these technologies have an impact on our daily life as they have helped in terms of planning, implementation or making decisions,” he said. While Malaysia is not the most advanced country in technology adaptation, it is not too far behind compared to its neighbouring countries, Khairy added.

“Malaysia is currently ranked third in the world as a solar energy hub and green technology and has great potential in generating solar energy through a photovoltaic panel.

“Malaysia is also currently using blockchain technology, the Vaccine Management System (VMS), to assist in the tracing process of the Covid-19 vaccine effects under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme,” he said.

Khairy added that the VMS will allow for generating a digital vaccination certificate which complies with the World Health Organisation guidelines to facilitate cross-state movement and international travels.

“IR4.0 transformation enablers cover all aspects of life and industry to ensure the development of technology functions.

“Mosti is developing several policies and technology roadmap for electrical and electronics technology, vaccines, blockchain, hydrogen economy, nanotechnology, AI, robotics, advanced materials as well as research and development for commercialisation, innovation and economics,” he said.