Budget 2027 Must Enhance People’s Ability To Adapt To AI To Boost Nation’s Competitive Advantage - HR Consultant
By Mikhail Raj Abdullah
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia must undertake initiatives in Budget 2027 to accelerate the people’s ability to adapt to the dynamics of artificial intelligence (AI) rather than merely adopting it, a move which will help the country raise its competitive advantage.
In making the call, human resource consultant Mary Ratnam said countries that succeed in the AI era will not simply be those with access to the best technology but rather those with people who can learn, adapt and create value as technology evolves.
“After all, technology can be bought but human capability has to be built,” Mary, who is the founder of Aspira Consultancy, told Bernama in an interview today.
As such, she said, the government should in the budget to be unveiled on Oct 9 continue providing incentives to encourage not only the adoption but the adaption of AI by a wide cross-section of the populace.
This means that the budget should not merely focus on investing in AI but rather investing in people to help more Malaysians participate in the digital economy and build a future that is both innovative and inclusive.
She emphasised that small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for 97 per cent of small business establishments in Malaysia, should be an integral part of the AI adaptation.
She lamented that much of the attention around AI focuses on large organisations when some of the biggest gains could be gotten from helping smaller businesses improve productivity, serve customers better and compete more effectively via AI.
NEED TO LEARN CONSTANTLY, ADAPT TO AI QUICKLY
“The real challenge now is how we prepare more Malaysians to thrive in a world where AI becomes part of everyday work.”
Mary said “Malaysia's competitive advantage would not be AI alone, but would be AI-ready people for which the country is starting from a position of strength.”
This is because Malaysia has already established strong foundations towards human resource development, having invested heavily in skills development and HR training opportunities, she noted.
Malaysia has also made significant allocations to promote technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
She reiterated that the government should focus on transforming Malaysia into an AI-adapting nation and not merely being an AI-adopting nation.
Elaborating, Mary said that adopting technology is a one-time decision whereas adapting to change is a long-term capability given that technology is constantly evolving, which leads to the emergence of new tools.
“Jobs will change, the need to learn will not, which is why the real advantage lies in how quickly people can learn and adapt to AI.”
It is not a just a challenge for software engineers and technology professionals but applies to teachers, nurses, entrepreneurs, civil servants, technicians, manufacturers and small business owners alike.
Mary also highlighted that “what increasingly sets organisations apart is not what they know, but how quickly they learn” which entails developing new skills and capabilities the fastest.
“In many ways, the future belongs not to the most knowledgeable organisations, but to the most learnable ones.
“Because in the end, our competitive advantage will not simply be the technology we adopt, it will be the people who know how to use it well,” she said.
PROVIDING CLARITY, ACCESS TO LEARNING
Drawing from her experience working with organisations across different sectors, Mary said many employees are not resistant to AI itself but are often uncertain about how it will affect their roles, careers and future employability.
Some of the most common concerns raised during leadership and workforce development programmes are fears of job displacement, gaps in digital skills, lack of confidence in using new technologies, and uncertainty about how jobs will evolve in the coming years.
“Many employees are willing to learn, but they need support, exposure and opportunities to build confidence. The challenge is often not capability, but clarity and access to learning,” she said.
She said organisations also face challenges in helping managers lead teams through technological change while maintaining employee engagement and productivity.
“As AI becomes more common in the workplace, leaders will need to spend more time helping people develop new skills, adapt to changing work environments and understand how technology can enhance rather than replace human contributions," she said.
Having conducted programmes in leadership development, talent management and future workforce readiness, she said organisations that succeed will be those that create strong learning cultures and encourage continuous upskilling at all levels.
-- BERNAMA