Salutations:

1. Yang Berusaha En. Suhaimi Ali Assistant Governor, BNM

2. Ms Yuki Aizawa APAC Director & Country Director (Malaysia), Women in Tech

3. Yang Berusaha Mr. Adrian Marcellus Chief Executive Officer, MyDigital Corporation

4. Yang Berusaha En. Anuar Fariz Fadzil Chief Executive Officer, MDEC

5. Mr. Ong Chin Seong Chief Executive Officer, The National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM)

Esteemed guests,

Members of Media,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Salam Perpaduan, Salam Malaysia MADANI, and a very good morning.

1. I am extremely happy to start the day by acknowledging, and celebrating the extraordinary women in our digital and tech world.

2. As we stand on the precipice of this ever-evolving digital era, it is extremely important that we recognise and amplify the contributions of women in the tech space. We are seeing more women leaders, innovators, and trailblazers – individuals who are not just breaking the glass ceiling, but redefining it.

3. However, we can do with more women holding key roles in the tech arena. This reminds me of Tim Cook's words. In 2022, the Apple Chief Executive said: "Technology's a great thing that will accomplish many things, but unless you have diverse views at the table that are working on it, you don't wind up with great solutions."

4. This is so true. We cannot be speaking about new and emerging technologies, like Generative AI or digital twin, without hearing from all parties, especially women leaders. Inclusivity is key.

5. According to the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2024, new LinkedIn data reveals that the concentration of women talent in artificial intelligence (AI) engineering has more than doubled since 2016. While women still have a smaller industry presence than men, sectors like Technology, Information, and Media have seen significant increases in women AI talent. 3 At the industry level, gender parity in AI industry representation has increased gradually in Education; Professional Services; Manufacturing; and Technology, Information and Media.

6. However, the same report noted that women’s representation in senior leadership, between 2023 and 2024, saw moderate declines across all industries, including technology - from 26.7% to 26.4%. This drop, while small, signals a broader issue. We must ask ourselves: Why are fewer women reaching these positions? What barriers remain? In Malaysia and beyond, we need to take decisive action to reverse this trend, by providing more leadership training, mentorship, and support for women to ascend to senior roles in the tech sector

7. Case in point: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia recently established the first ever AI faculty in a local university. The faculty welcomed its first batch of students. I am happy to note that 33 out of the 101 students are women. As such, we need to continue to encourage young females to pursue their higher education in AI and tech courses. To do that, we must invest in programmes that target girls at an early age, and turn technology into an exciting, accessible career path for them.

8. On the other hand, I have an interesting case to share with you. In January this year, our Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched ‘AI Untuk Rakyat’, an online programme that aims to provide basic AI awareness to the rakyat. This is to also spark the curiosity and interest in our youths to consider AI as a field of study. The programme has attracted more than 1.3 million 4 Malaysians in 9 months, and I am happy to inform all of you that 52% of those who registered are women. That, to me, is encouraging, and I hope it is reflective of the growing interest in tech.

9. So, what can we do to encourage more young girls and women to take an interest and be part of the tech and digital world?

10. An initiative called #GirlsInICT was organised by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), an agency under the Ministry of Digital, last year. Aligned to a programme under the International Telecommunication Union, this initiative aimed to encourage girls and young women to embrace Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers – empowering them to become not just users but also creators of technology in the digital world.

11. The #GirlsInICT campaign featured the impactful ‘The Digital Ninja #GirlsInTech’ a two-day programme featuring inspiring discussions with accomplished women in tech, and workshops. A total of 200 female students attended the programme.

12. MDEC is aiming for a 5% annual increase in female participation in its ‘Digital Ninja’ initiative next year. This programme targets students aged 11 to 16, putting them through a specially tailored programme offering advanced Digital Making and Upskilling, Critical Thinking, Leadership and Entrepreneurship skills. Additionally, at the national level, MDEC’s goal is to have 50% of female students achieve ‘Digital Intermediate’ rank in the 5 national Digital Competency Score for students.

13. Another key initiative is the #MyGirlsCan 2023 campaign, a localised version of the global ‘Hour of Code’ movement led by Code.org. This programme introduced coding basics and computer science concepts to over 8,000 female students through fun and engaging activities. These programmes exemplify the dedication to empowering young women in STEM, paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive future in the tech sphere.

14. Beyond schools, I encourage more women to participate in Malaysia’s booming digital scene. For example, the soon-to-be launched National AI Office is currently looking for qualified individuals to fill several key positions. There may be some among you who are suitably qualified, so do check out the vacancies as soon as possible. The deadline is this Friday, 11 October.

Ladies and gentlemen,

15. Women In Tech (WIT) Malaysia has been instrumental in creating a centralised platform, offering resources such as mentoring, crowdfunding opportunities, and a dedicated talent hub for women. Additionally, it spearheaded the development of a crowdfunding platform by partnering with pitchIN that provides WIT members with direct access to funding sources in Malaysia and beyond.

16. WIT's impact transcends national borders. Your organisation actively works towards increasing female enrollment in tech education, as exemplified by the successful campaign with the 42 Malaysia school. Similarly, your record-breaking "Girls-for-Girls" mentoring programme will empower over 1,000 young women this year alone.

17. I have been informed that WIT Malaysia is establishing new chapters in Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak. This is a great way to get more women involved, and excited about technology. WIT Malaysia is more than welcome to collaborate with the Ministry of Digital, especially on programmes that target our youth. By cultivating an interest in digital tech early on, we hope to see more people, especially young girls, play an active role in this space, and eventually contribute to Malaysia's digital economy.

18. I am happy to note that WIT will sign a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with MDEC to establish stronger, sustainable and long-term collaborations between the Malaysian digital ecosystem and WIT’s network of women in tech entrepreneurs. This will include mentoring sessions, talent hub funding, and facilitating opportunities in the Malaysian digital sphere.

Ladies and gentlemen,

19. To get our youths excited about digital careers, we need to hear from our tech heroes. We need more women in tech to share their stories. We need to hear about the challenges they face, lessons learned, and successes achieved. By amplifying these voices, we can motivate and inspire young girls who see tech as a viable, exciting, and rewarding career choice. We also hope such efforts will increase the participation of women in the workforce, which stood at 56.7% in July 2024, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

20. The unique perspectives that women bring to the table are invaluable. In addition, we must be mindful of their needs and create an environment that will help retain women in the workforce. This means creating policies that offer flexibility, equal opportunities for career advancement, and work cultures that are inclusive and free from bias.

21. The Malaysian government has a series of initiatives to retain women in the workforce. Led by TalentCorp, the initiatives include the Career Comeback Programme, for those returning to work after a career break; and Women Industry Network, a support network consisting of successful women who mentor others to enhance a nurturing culture for our women talent.

22. Before I take my leave, allow me to congratulate this year’s Women In Tech award winners. Your accomplishments stand as a testament to the dedication, perseverance, and innovation that define this community. You have broken barriers and set new benchmarks, and I trust that your achievements will continue to inspire others.

23. May you use this recognition not only as a celebration of your hard work but as a platform to uplift more women, to mentor, and to lead others in their journeys through the tech ecosystem.

Thank you again for inviting me and I wish you all the best

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