INGENIEUR
Digital
Technology
Pathway
I
n this Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) era, the
Malaysian Government acted timely in setting up
the world’s first Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) in
2017. The action by the Malaysian Digital Economy
Corporation (MDEC) to collaborate with Alibaba
to spearhead the e-commerce platform to assist
local SMEs to gain access to international markets
marked a new milestone for Malaysia’s entry to
the digital economy.
The International Digital Corporation (IDC)
noted that at least 20% of Malaysia’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) will be digitised by 2021.
Malaysia has also set its sights on developing
20,000 data professionals and 2,000 data
scientists by 2020. Data engineers will have key
roles to play among data professionals which
include data scientists and data analysts.
It is hence timely that this issue with the theme
of “Digital Technology Pathway” is published to
highlight the threats and opportunities that this
digital and disruptive technology brings. Hyper
connectivity, the main element of Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure
under the new era of 4IR, requires organisations to
digitally transform and accelerate their operations.
4 6
VOL
VOL 73
55 JANUARY-MARCH
JUNE 2013 2018
The challenges and platform paradigms are well
described in the article “Accelerating Success in
the 4th Industrial Revolution”.
The article on “Digital Malaysia in 2018”
addresses the need for Malaysian companies to
leverage digital innovation across all business
activities. It is about building a vibrant domestic
ICT industry, transforming digital solutions
by Government, businesses and citizens and
constant nurturing of a robust ecosystem.
The initiatives of MDEC in setting up Global
Acceleration Innovation Network (GAIN), Malaysian
Tech Entrepreneur Programme (M-TEP) and Digital
Transformation Programme (D-TAP) are clear steps
in achieving Malaysia’s vision as a regional hub for
digital economy.
With projects in digital business, blockchain,
IoT, Big Data Analytics, Machine Learning and
Artificial Intelligence as main drivers of growth, it is
time for all practising engineers and stakeholders
to embrace the digital economy in order not to be
left behind.
Dato’ Sri Ir. Dr Roslan bin Md Taha
President BEM