Anwar urges industry to build technology skills and adapt faster
The prime minister also stressed that development gains must reach poorer communities rather than deepen inequality.
Malaysia's industrial sector needs to adapt more rapidly to global economic shifts by developing expertise in technology, research and development (R&D), and innovation, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Addressing the 2026 Industry Excellence Awards (AKI) ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said businesses and the government must be ready to make swift changes. He emphasised cooperation between them to translate economic policies into action.
He said he had reminded colleagues in the Treasury and Finance Ministry during budget drafting to begin with grassroots sectors' frameworks instead of their own. These should then be brought together with consideration for differences in race, religion, sentiment and region, he said.
Anwar cautioned against pursuing higher growth and exports while allowing inequality to increase. Poor communities, including those in Hulu Kelantan and Kapit, Sarawak, must not be excluded from development benefits, he said.
He also called for a shift away from outdated economic approaches. Without capabilities in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), Malaysia risked falling behind even with its talent and industrial advantages, he said.
UMW Aerospace Sdn Bhd received AKI's highest honour, the Prime Minister's Award, which Anwar presented at the ceremony. The award recognised the company's management, quality of high-impact products, sustainability practices and incorporation of advanced technologies.
