Malaysia to Develop National Robotics Roadmap

March 2022

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has announced the government’s plan to produce the National Robotics Roadmap (NRR) to push robotic technology into the mainstream and promote national productivity. NRR is instrumental in encouraging higher intensity of robot adoption from 55 units per 10,000 workers in 2019 to 195 units per 10,000 workers by 2030, in order to lessen reliance on foreign manpower and reduce foreign exchange outflow.

NRR will also endorse the Catalytic Projects concept to propel the MyDIGITAL Aspiration. MyDIGITAL is a national framework that focuses on digitalization to transform Malaysia into a high-income nation. The government has chosen to create MyDIGITAL Catalytic Projects Task Force, which will choose key projects and monitor their implementation through the public-private partnership model. It would be funded by the private sector with the government acting as a facilitator. Smart medicine, by means of setting up of hospitals using 5G technology and Smart City are among major projects to be implemented under this concept.

Ismail also shared about the progress of the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA), which saw 1.89 million new premises covered by fiber optics coverage and 1,189 new 4G towers installed between September 2020 and December 2021. This resulted in 95% of populated areas gaining access to 4G service. Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), a Malaysian special-purpose vehicle firm had started the 5G wholesale network, with 500 5G sites active in Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, and Kuala Lumpur. By end of 2022, DNB aims to have 3,500 sites or 36% coverage in populated areas.

(Sources: The Malaysian Reserve; The Edge Markets)

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