KUCHING: Sarawak aims to cultivate a skilled workforce to realise its ambition of becoming a leading aerospace industry hub in Malaysia.
In stating this, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the industry requires individuals with advanced technological skills.
“When we talk about satellites, we must know how to build rockets, as rockets are needed to reach orbit. Then, satellites must be equipped with chips capable of reading data from the Earth’s surface and storing it.
“That’s why Sarawak has tasked i-CATS University College with establishing an aerospace faculty and collaborating with international experts to teach these new technologies to our people.
“It is a very ambitious plan, but we have to start somewhere,” he said.
He said this during the SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd dinner event here last night (Nov 29).
Abang Johari also mentioned that the Sarawak government has approved an allocation of RM50 million to drive advancements in semiconductor technology.
“In the previous budget, we included this as a capital injection and will monitor SMD’s performance because I understand very well that the semiconductor industry requires significant capital to reach greater heights,” he said.
Also present were the Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee and SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Shariman Jamil.
