Psychology Assignment: Science and Technology in Malaysia's Progress

This essay provides an overview of the critical role of science and technology in Malaysia's progress, emphasizing its impact on economic sectors and future growth. It explores government initiatives, such as the Digital Free Trade Zone and STEM action plans, aimed at fostering technological capabilities and a knowledge-based economy. The essay highlights challenges, including brain drain and the need for increased human capital development, while also discussing the importance of R&D, collaboration, and strategic partnerships. It also touches on the significance of green and digital technologies, the role of ethnic groups in scientific research, and Malaysia's vision for becoming a technologically advanced nation by 2050. The essay underscores the need for continuous improvement and investment to achieve economic, social, and environmental expectations.

Running Head: PSYCHOLOGY 1
Malay Science and Technology
Author's Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Introduction
The progress of any nation is reliant on the science and technology progress and
development. The scientific and technological innovations play a vital role in the future progress
of a country and transform its economic sectors. Malaysia is a fast merging Asian economy that
reflects the potential to develop new technologies for pursuing technology-based economic
growth.
World Economic Forum projects that the new jobs of the future would be founded on
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) (New Straits Times, 2018). Datuk
Tangau, the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister of Malaysia stated at the 20th
Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference, “STI development in the coming 30 years is a must to
fulfill not only our objectives of becoming an advanced nation but a sustainable one at that”
(New Straits Times, 2018).
The Malaysian government does not want the country to lag in global development and is
already piloting futuristic technologies like new genetic technologies, nanotechnology
automation, and robotics. Technology and Innovation Minister of Malaysia believes that
Malaysia will have an advanced capacity for Science, Technology, and Innovation by 2050
(AriffAzizan, 2013). The country is likely to develop expertise in areas of green technology,
digital technology, biotechnology, neurotechnology, and nanotechnology. Application of green
technology and digital technology will contribute proactively and make the country self-
sustaining. Globalization and technological changes place pressures on a country to acquire
economic-based information for economic endurance. The New National Agenda in Malaysia is
on a mission to achieve vision 2020 for nation's human capital development with lifelong

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learning (Buntat, Puteh, Azeman, Nasir, Iahad, & Aziz, 2013). The country is taking initiatives
like Digital Free Trade Zone, STEM skills and Malaysia’s Vision 2020.
Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) can explore lucrative foreign markets to increase the
capabilities and competitiveness of the nation (New Straits Times, 2018). DFTZ encourages
businesses to think digital’ and strengthen Malaysia’s position. As STEM skills need to develop
from a very young and early age, Malaysia’s education blueprint is all set to follow a STEM
Action Plan that is finalized by the government. The Malaysian government has allocated RM25
million for the National STEM Learning Centre to coach and prepare science teachers (New
Straits Times, 2018). Malaysia’s Vision 2020 emphasizes on building technology capabilities
and move towards a economy based on knowledge by the year 2020 (AriffAzizan, 2013). The
9th and 10th Malaysia plans allocate substantial funds for R&D in both hard and soft sciences
(Lewison, Kumar, Wong, Roe, and Webber, 2016).
As stated by AriffAzizan (2013), Malaysian faces particular challenges in the
development of human capital as it is essential to have higher cognitive skills for science and
technology education. The skilled human capital in Malaysia is still not satisfactory to allow
technological progress and development. Networking Technological change is not an easy
process as systematic cooperation, and strong interaction is needed between government,
university, and industry. Brain drain has resulted in Malaysian scientists and engineer’s
migration to other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. It is
essential to raise awareness regarding science and technology among the public to increase
human capital and stop the brain drain.
In order to create competitiveness in the era of globalization, it is essential to develop a
national science policy for the indigenization of technology. There is a need to nurture

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indigenous pride in its own history and adapt Malaysian-Malay-Islam value system in science
and technology education (Wan Daud & Mohamad Zain, n.d.). R&D is the fundamental pillar of
productivity and can help the country to develop technological capability and diversify its base.
Malaysia has shown positive progress as R&D makes an impressive contribution. In recent
years, the expenditure for R&D has shown a steady rise as asserted by AriffAzizan (2013).
Malays have augmented their contribution in science and technology research in the last few
decades. However, the increased participation is observed to be lower in the two Borneo states.
when compared to Peninsula. The patterns reflect the ethnic divisions within Malaysia.
(Lewison, Kumar, Wong, Roe, and Webber, 2016). Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country, and
Malaysia’s research productivity reflects that Malays within Malaysia are dominating scientific
research.
The scientific and technological based knowledge and activity in the country has
progressed rapidly with the help of skilled human capital. However, substantial investment in
research and development is required to contribute to science and technology. Malaysia’s human
capital is still less qualified when compared to other nations. The Malaysians literacy rate and
enrolment ratio are still far behind. However, the recent finding suggests that Malaysia has made
rapid progress when it comes to youth and adult literacy (Lai and Yap, 2004). Eleventh Malaysia
Plan 2016–2020 identifies green economy to play a significant role in the socio-economic
development of the country. The plentiful biomass available in the country can be recycled to
harvest bio-based products through biorefinery (Sadhukhan, Martinez-Hernandez, Murphy, Ng,
Hassim, Siew Ng, K., … Andiappan, 2018). Continuous improvement and R&D are needed to
target economic, social and environmental expectations.

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Liberal immigration policies and effective Government recruitment programs can stop
the brain drain. Collaborative R&D ventures and strategic partnerships are essential in directing
R&D activities (Lai and Yap, 2004). It is essential to enhance collaborations between science
and technology parks in Malaysia and the recent changing economies of Asia for technological
upgrading. According to Lai and Yap (2004), Malaysia should avoid the risk of implementing a
solitary model across all the industrial states. It needs a large firm internalization model to build
a strong technological base. It is required that the country swings its internalization strategies to
externalization for mastering advanced technologies. The Government research institutes must
increase in numbers and quality for technological specialties and scientific disciplines as asserted
by Lai and Yap (2004).
Malaysia is an evolving Asian economy that is fast moving towards a technology-driven
development and carries the potential to develop new technologies. Although Malaysia has
made significant progress in the field of science and technology, it still faces several challenges
to come at par with the rest of the technologically advanced countries of the world and its
neighbors. The country needs to take specific steps to progress in the field of science and
technology to face intensified competition and advanced technology around the world.

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References
AriffAzizan, S. (2013). Strengthening Malaysia's Scientific and Technological Development
through Human Capital Development. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences,
91(10), 648-653.
Buntat, Y., Puteh, N. A., Azeman, S. H., Nasir, A. N. M., Iahad, N., & Aziz, M. A. (2013). The
Need of Lifelong Learning towards Learning Community Development in Malaysia.
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 93, 1541–1545.
Krr. (2019). The contribution of ethnic groups to Malaysian scientific output, 1982–2014, and
the effects of the new economic policy. University, 1(1), 12–22.
Lewison, G, Kumar, S., Wong, C., Roe, P. &Webber, R. (2016). The contribution of ethnic
groups to Malaysian scientific output, 1982–2014, and the effects of the new economic
policy. Scientometrics, 1(1), 1877–1893.
Lai, M. &Yap, S. (2004). Technology Development In Malaysia And The Newly
Industrializing Economies: A Comparative Analysis. Asia-Pacific Development Journal, 11(2),
53–80.
New Straits Times. (2018). Science, technology & innovation crucial for country's progress
leading up to 2050, NST Online Retrieved from
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/01/328744/science-technology-innovation-
crucial-countrys-progress-leading-2050

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Sadhukhan, J., Martinez-Hernandez, E., Murphy, R. J., Ng, D. K. S., Hassim, M. H., Siew Ng,
K., … Andiappan, V. (2018). Role of bioenergy, biorefinery and bioeconomy in
sustainable development: Strategic pathways for Malaysia. Renewable and Sustainable
Energy Reviews, 81(2), 1966–1987.
Wan Daud, W.R. & Mohamad Zain, S (n.d.). Indigenisation Of Technology And The Challenge
Of Globalization: The Case Of Malaysia. epartment of Chemical and Process
Engineering Malaysia, 1(1), 1–22.