Greetings from MASSA!

As we cross the first half of 2021, Malaysia is beginning to see a faint light at the end of the pandemic tunnel when the vaccine rollout began in earnest in May 2021. We thank our Government for their efforts to provide the much-needed vaccinations for everyone residing in the country with the choice to be vaccinated. Despite the quickening pace of vaccinations, the continuing high rates of COVID infections still pose a serious threat to the economy as many businesses have to remain in lockdown. In these difficult circumstances, MASSA continues to leverage on its myriad platforms and sources to keep members informed and updated on relevant business and economic issues across the South nations.  

In this August newsletter, we would like to thank all our contributors. They include Dr Sumitra Nair, Vice-President of Talent Development and Digital Entrepreneurship at Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) for her insightful article on the increased prospects of digital-talent related jobs in the marketplace. We also thank Malaysia External Development Corporation (MATRADE), Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) for their informative articles. These insightful articles from the different Government agencies highlight their focused alignment on the digital transformation agenda that requires people processes and progressive technological process to be in upward synch to reap the efficiencies and competitiveness that this transformation can bring. We also thank Mr Rajibul Ahsan, Counsellor at the Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia giving us the latest economic and emerging business trends in Bangladesh.

The first half of 2021 had been an eventful period for MASSA. We feature in our Diary of Events the webinars organised by the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) titled “Bangladesh-Malaysia FTA: Challenges and Opportunities for Business Community” and Showcase Bangladesh: 2021 Bangladesh-Malaysia Investment Summit organised by Standard Chartered Malaysia alongside the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). MASSA also participated in the Online Round Table Discussion on “Connecting to the African Market – Mauritius your Investment Destination” co-organised by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius.

On 23 June 2021, MASSA held its 30^th Annual General Meeting online and saw elected, office bearers and exco members for the new term 2021-2023.

While we had to defer some planned events, we welcome members and readers to a webinar on Cybersecurity on 18^th August 2021. Please keep a lookout for member’s weekly Circulars for the latest news and events.

Last but not the least, we want to thank our members, contributors, and associates for your support to date. MASSA remains committed to bring to members views and news from the South-South.

We wish all members and readers to stay safe and vigilant in this ongoing pandemic.

Thank you.

Ng Su Fun

Editorial MASSA

Tan Sri Azman Hashim
President
MASSA 

Malaysia’s digital transformation roadmap got a further boost with the launch of the National 4IR Policy on 1 July 2021. Malaysia can be on track to attain the status of a high-tech, high-performing nation by 2030 as outlined in the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030. This can be achieved with the execution of the National 4IR Policy and National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation (NPSTI) designed to empower the people with IR4.0 knowledge and skillsets to boost our workforce’s productivity and to raise our industries’ global competitiveness. The core of IR4.0 technologies include artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, distributed ledger technology (DLT), advanced materials supported by cloud computing and big data analytics (BDA). These technologies can have the ability to create multiplier effects in many economic sectors.

Malaysia’s economic performance, despite a positive first quarter 2021 will be impacted by the enhanced Movement Control Orders (EMCO) introduced once again since June 2021 given the stubbornly high daily new COVID cases, especially in the Klang Valley. Seeing the severity of the economic situation, the Government has released yet another RM150B PEMULIH (National People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package) package for the Rakyat. This prolonged EMCO will likely impact our GDP growth forecast for 2021 from 5.6% to 4.2-4.4%. The National Vaccination rollout is therefore critical and must be expedited at all costs before we can see the green shoots of economic recovery for our nation.

MASSA held its 30th Annual General Meeting online on 23 June 2021. I would like to congratulate and thank the newly elected Office Bearers and Executive Committee members who will serve, and for most of you, for continuing to serve again, in the new term, 2021-2023. I extend my heartiest gratitude to outgoing members who have served for an equally long time.

I appreciate the continuing support and participation of all members with your attendance and involvement at our regular meetings and webinars. I also wish to thank members and our ex-officio partners, who have contributed valuable and insightful articles for our newsletters and not forgetting the sponsors of our website.

Stay healthy.

Tan Sri Azman Hashim

President

2 Aug 2021