Malaysia is doubling down on innovation as the next engine of national growth, with acting Economy Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan calling for a whole-of-nation shift toward technology, creativity and high-value industries at the National Economic Outlook Conference 2025.
Speaking at the event, Amir Hamzah, who is also the finance minister II, said Malaysia’s future prosperity “must be drawn from innovation-driven growth”, echoing priorities under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
He stressed that the government is strengthening the ecosystem for advanced technology adoption, R&D, commercialisation and national intellectual property ownership — all crucial for supporting high-complexity “Made by Malaysia” products and services.
Amir Hamzah shared that a national artificial intelligence (AI) roadmap will soon be rolled out to position Malaysia as an inclusive, sustainable AI-powered economy, complementing major policies including the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, National Science, Technology & Innovation Policy and National 4IR Policy.
Amir Hamzah highlighted that innovation must also uplift communities, citing examples where technology could help smallholders in rural Sabah secure fairer produce prices or ensure transparency in charitable funds. Such community-focused innovation, he said, often goes unnoticed by big corporations but is vital for Malaysia’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Under 13MP, he said the government is accelerating MSME scaling efforts through funding models, working capital support, logistics improvements, certification facilitation and better access to export markets.
He noted the growing strength of young Malaysian entrepreneurs who are leveraging technology to reshape traditional industries.
The minister also underscored the need for private-sector innovation, especially within financial institutions, which must evolve their risk frameworks to support emerging business models.
Touching on AI, he said the rise of large language models illustrates a key truth: “Innovation, like AI, depends on thoughtful design and high-quality inputs”. Building an innovative economy requires the same level of discipline, structure and continuous refinement.
He concluded with a call for collective effort: “Innovation is not the work of a few, but the collective effort of a nation. By embracing creativity, collaboration and technology, while remaining guided by strong values, Malaysia can move confidently toward becoming an innovation-driven economy.”
