THE Penang government remains dedicated to increasing the engineering talent pool in the state to meet the demands of the evolving industry.
Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, overseeing the Human Capital Development, Science and Technology portfolio, pledged support to bridge the gap between industry demand and available talent.
“The need for engineers is evident nowadays, especially in the current landscape of a rapidly growing hub for technology and engineering.
“In a bid for Penang to become a technology-driven state, we recognise the need for engineers and skilled workers in the technology and engineering sectors.
“Therefore, we (state) would strive to promote the industry in order to meet the shortage of talented engineers,” Jagdeep said during an interaction with students from SMK Tun Hussein Onn at the Intel PG16 plant in Bayan Lepas today.
Highlighting the evolving role of engineers, he dispelled misconceptions and emphasised that engineers are at the forefront of development, driving innovation and leveraging the latest technology.
The secondary school students were present at the plant as part of the Women in Zcience (WiZ) initiative.
Jagdeep acknowledged the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education.
“STEM is the driving force behind innovation, progress, and development in our evolving world,” he said.
He expressed a hope for increased female participation in the engineering field.
Intel’s APJ Health, Education and Consumer Industries senior director Dr Ngoo Seong Boon lauded the public-private partnership to deliver the best for the industry.
“We hope more women can join the engineering workforce,” he said.
Dr Ngoo also voiced optimism that the state’s support could boost the number of engineers.
Among those present were Tech Dome chief executive officer Khoo Boo Wooi, Intel Malaysia Community Relations director Amran Mohd Dom and Intel staff, affirming collaborative efforts to nurture a skilled workforce and advance the engineering industry in Penang.
Story and pix by Edmund Lee