17/09/2025

BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | SEPT 17, 2025

15 Sirim turns 50 – building the future

o Half a century of advancing national competitiveness and fostering sustainable industry growth

SHAH ALAM: Sirim Bhd celebrates a monumental milestone – its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of relentless dedication to advancing Malaysia’s industry, technology and quality standards. Since its inception in 1975, Sirim has stood as a beacon of innovation and a trusted partner in shaping the nation’s industrial landscape and propelling Malaysia onto the global stage. Founded with a bold vision to enhance Malaysia’s industrial capabilities and quality assurance, Sirim’s journey has been defined by ground-breaking achievements, including the establishment of the National Rechargeable Battery Testing Centre, which plays a critical role in supporting a safer and more resilient electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. Driven by a strong commitment to research and development, Sirim has spurred innovation in key industries such as manufacturing, electronics and green technology. By empowering SMEs to embrace international standards, Sirim has significantly boosted Malaysia’s global competitiveness. Notably, the Sirim Fraunhofer Programme has benefited more than 2,500 companies by enabling access to cutting-edge technology and productivity enhancements, further fuelling national economic growth. Over the past five decades, Sirim has certified thousands of companies across diverse sectors, elevating product quality and safety to meet international benchmarks. Building on this legacy, Sirim is set to introduce two major certifications in November, namely the ISO 56001 Innovation Malaysia’s workforce with skills for high-growth industries such as semiconductors, renewable energy and electric vehicles, said an economist. Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Economic and Financial Policy Institute senior associate fellow associate professor Irwan Shah Zainal Abidin said that this approach can propel Malaysia to emerge as a hub for skilled talent and attract foreign direct investments (FDI), making the country an ideal host for global companies. He said that prioritising TVET is key to meeting industry demand, including that of foreign investors, and in the process, safeguard the country’s growth. However, he lamented that “employers often struggle to find qualified technicians, engineers and specialists” even as Malaysia continues to attract FDIs, particularly in advanced manufacturing and the semiconductor industry. He cited how Boeing’s planned facility and support towards making

Management System and ISO/IEC 42001 Artificial Intelligence Management System. These frameworks will help organisations in improving innovation performance, reducing uncertainty, generating employment and ensuring responsible AI governance across all sectors. On the regional front, Sirim continues to strengthen its leadership role. The National Metrology Institute of Malaysia recently hosted the 13th Asean Expert Group on Metrology, uniting representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, with Timor Leste as observers. The forum supported Asean’s broader scientific and technological goals, reinforcing Sirim’s commitment to advancing regional collaboration and quality infrastructure. Complementing these efforts is the upcoming Asia Design Sharing Seminar and Dialogues 2025 by the Malaysia Design Council. As a regional platform, ADS fosters cross cultural collaboration among designers, educators and industry professionals to explore sustainable design practices, emerging trends and policy integration. The Golden Jubilee celebrations kicked off with the vibrant Sirim Fun Run 2025 on Sept 14 at Dataran Kemerdekaan, Shah Alam – a joint event with Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam in its effort to promote environmental awareness, wellness and community spirit Building on this momentum, the celebrations will continue throughout the coming year, reaching regional Malaysia a regional aerospace hub, semiconductor expansions by Intel, Infineon and Tata Electronics, and relocations under the “China-plus one” strategy, would require the right talent pool. “Investment alone is not enough without the right talent pool as industries such as semiconductors demand precision, discipline and advanced skills,“ he said in a statement in response to the rising importance of TVET in Malaysia’s industrial landscape. “Our technicians, engineers and specialists will be the true backbone of this industry, (and) with the right training, Malaysia can position itself not just as a host to global companies but as a hub for skilled talent,” he said. Irwan cautioned that the growing mismatch between skilled labour supply and industry demand, especially in high-growth, high value sectors, threatens to slow Malaysia’s economic progress. He said the challenge is even more urgent as the nation pushes to climb the value chain and tap into emerging sectors such as the green (low-carbon), blue (sustainable marine), grey (harmful-related) and

From EV testing to SME empowerment, Sirim’s golden jubilee reflects a legacy of innovation shaping Malaysia’s industries. – SIRIM WEBSITE

China Eastern adds Taiyuan-KL to global network KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism Malaysia recently welcomed China Eastern Airlines on the launch of its inaugural direct service connecting Taiyuan and Kuala Lumpur. As one of China’s major cities rich in cultural heritage and economic potential, Taiyuan’s connection to Kuala Lumpur is expected to encourage greater visitor flows and boost Malaysia’s visibility as a preferred destination in Asia. China Eastern Airlines is set to operate the new route four times weekly, with a scheduled transit stop at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. From January to June, Malaysia welcomed an impressive 2.2 million visitor arrivals from China, marking a notable 35.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Tourism Malaysia remains committed to working closely with international carriers, airport authorities, and industry stakeholders to strengthen Malaysia’s connectivity and global tourism presence. This initiative is also timely in supporting Malaysia’s ramp-up efforts for the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. change digitalisation, sustainability, Industry 4.0 and green technology, empowering Malaysia to thrive in an increasingly competitive global landscape. As Sirim celebrates this golden jubilee, the organisation looks forward to the future with optimism, passion and purpose – ready to innovate, inspire and make a lasting impact for the next 50 years and beyond. “We extend our deepest gratitude to all stakeholders, partners and the wider community whose unwavering support has powered this extraordinary journey. Together, we have forged a legacy that continues to shape Malaysia’s industrial future, and together, we will build the next chapter of innovation and growth,” added Nik Sazali. through

must scale up in three areas: capacity, by expanding places, labs and industry-grade facilities; quality, with up-to-date modules aligned to technologies and industry needs; and pathways, providing clear progression into higher TVET, universities and lifelong learning. Irwan said that the Fourth Industrial Revolution and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are reshaping industry needs, requiring new skills that traditional education alone cannot provide. “TVET institutions are better positioned to adapt quickly to these changes, especially in advanced sectors like renewable energy, electric vehicles and semiconductors. “While cross-border talent can plug short-term gaps, long-term resilience hinges on a demand driven TVET ecosystem under the Madani Economic Framework,” said Irwan. “In the future, Malaysia must not only be a place where goods are made. It must be about ‘Made by Malaysia’ powered by homegrown skills, innovation and talent,“ he added. – Bernama Technopreneurship Roundtable and various other stakeholder engagements throughout the year. This year-long commemoration underscores Sirim’s belief that 50 years of excellence deserves more than a single day of recognition – it stands as a testament to Sirim’s enduring legacy of innovation and its unwavering contributions to Malaysia’s economic growth. Reflecting on the milestone, acting president and group CEO Nik Sazali Nik Hussin said, “Fifty years is more than a milestone; it is a testament to our resilience, innovation and unwavering commitment to nation building. As we step into the next chapter, we embrace the challenges and opportunities of the future with confidence.” He added that Sirim continues to be a catalyst for transformative

orange (creative) economies. Among other things, these economies aim to achieve growth by reducing environmental risks, sustainably utilising ocean and freshwater resources for economic growth, and fostering a creative economy that generates intellectual growth, all of which would require new skills. Between 2022 and 2023, Irwan said, a total of 260,000 fresh graduates entered the job market, whereas only 150,000 high-skilled jobs were created, which led to 110,000, or 36% of underemployment in the labour market in those years. He emphasised that this mismatch is also a wake-up call for Malaysia’s education providers. Higher learning institutions must urgently shift towards embedding stronger TVET elements into their programmes, ensuring students graduate with industry-ready skills. Without this transformation, Malaysia risks producing graduates misaligned with future jobs while industries continue to face shortages of skilled workers. To build a skilled workforce, he said Malaysia’s TVET ecosystem offices and communities nationwide. From insightful conferences and exhibitions to impactful community initiatives, Sirim will spotlight its upcoming events including the International Conference on Quality and Innovation 2025, which will explore strategies in quality assurance, standards development, sustainable innovation and digital transformation, and Majlis Sirim Industri (MSI) 2025. MSI aims to strengthen partnerships between Sirim, government agencies and industry players, while recognising organisations certified by Sirim QAS International Sdn Bhd. Others include the Sirim Invention, Innovation and Technology Expo, a platform for innovators and industry players to collaborate and drive technological advancement, the Asean

Economist: TVET key to a high-growth M’sian workforce KUALA LUMPUR: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) must be viewed as a critical frontline solution to equip