Share
- "These facilities provide manufacturers with scalable computing capacity for digital twins, real-time analytics and cloud-based manufacturing execution systems. This lowers the cost of accessing advanced digital tools, particularly for SMEs, by reducing capital expenditure barriers that would otherwise limit adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies."
PETALING JAYA (Nov 18): Malaysia's growing investment in hyperscale and artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data centres will lower the barriers for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies, said Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid.
Speaking at the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing New Manufacturing Summit earlier on Tuesday, he said this infrastructure provides the computational backbone necessary for AI-driven quality control, predictive maintenance systems and real-time supply chain optimisation across Malaysia's manufacturing sector.
"These facilities provide manufacturers with scalable computing capacity for digital twins, real-time analytics and cloud-based manufacturing execution systems. This lowers the cost of accessing advanced digital tools, particularly for SMEs, by reducing capital expenditure barriers that would otherwise limit adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies," he said in his keynote address at the event, which was held at One World Hotel.
The Mida chief also stressed that global supply chains increasingly incorporate environmental, social and governance criteria into sourcing decisions, with companies unable to demonstrate carbon transparency, responsible sourcing and fair labour practices facing exclusion from major contracts.
"Malaysia has aligned its policy framework accordingly," he said, citing the National Energy Transition Roadmap, the commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and investments in renewable energy infrastructure as providing the regulatory and physical foundations manufacturers require.
He also said carbon pricing will begin in 2026 for the iron, steel and energy sectors, creating a market system that encourages companies to operate more efficiently and enable higher investments in clean energy.
On investment performance, Mida approved RM285.2 billion in total investments from January to September 2025, with manufacturing accounting for RM93.8 billion or 32.9% of the total across over 800 projects anticipated to generate close to 73,000 new jobs.
