Datuk Chua Tee Yong: Some still assume Industry 4.0 is not coming

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong, observed that despite rising awareness, some Malaysian companies still resist investing in digitalisation, Bernama reported.

Speaking to reporters at a Siemens Conference, he noted this was quite a common phenomenon in most countries when it comes to Industry 4.0 adoptions. In line with that, Chua revealed that the government intended to have a blueprint to tailor its five-year plan and budget to encourage companies to embrace digitalisation.

Unfortunately, he noted: "Some businesses still assume that Industry 4.0 is not coming and could prevent this as the government could block and shelter this wind of change in the whole business environment."

"We are more concerned with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as big companies are more aware of market trends. For their (SMEs) sustainability, they need to evolve in the pathway of digitalisation," Chua said.

Thankfully, SMEs have become more aware of the need to embrace digitilisation in recent years. Citing a survey by SME Corporation on SMEs in terms of Internet adoption and digitalisation readiness, Chua said their awareness of digitalisation increased from 18% to about 30%.

He noted that constant engagement with the government and its agencies has helped SMEs to be aware of the need to change as that the fourth industrial revolution is no longer a possibility.

Understanding that there would be challenges - and perhaps even roadblocks - ahead in terms of critical human capital development, infrastructure and ecosystem readiness, funding, and incentives; Chua said: "It is imperative to understand and continuously analyse our strengths to determine the best supporting policies that the government could facilitate and provide in the way forward of this paradigm shift."

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MACC: Minimum RM500 reward for graft informants

In other local news, the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has spoken up in defense of MACC's initiative to reward government employees who report cases of corruption, Free Malaysia Today reported.

Speaking to a news conference after launching the anti-graft revolution movement and 3J campaign with Mara at the Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS) Terminal transport hub, Dzulkifli Ahmad said he saw nothing wrong with rewarding those who reject corruption while simultaneously showing them appreciation for staying clean.

"Don’t comment on this initiative as if it is our only effort to prevent corruption. We have many other anti-graft activities and campaigns. Look at the big picture.

"When we pay a reward, we are also showing our appreciation to someone who is clean. We hold such a person in high regard," he added.

With the minimum amount to be paid as reward at RM500, the "ringgit for ringgit" incentive for informants and witnesses among 0public employees in corruption cases was introduced in 2011 but only attracted 214 people and involved a total value of RM384,000.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil added that the number of informants and witnesses constituted only 0.00001% of the 1.6 million government employees.

That said, he pointed out that low figures did not mean there was poor response in reporting cases of corruption.

"We received many reports from government employees but many of the informants did not want the reward," Shamshun added.

Earlier this month, local oil and gas company, PETRONAS has confirmed that an employee has been arrested by the MACC over suspected graft.

READ MORE: Malaysia’s KKMM pledges anti-corruption

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