More STEM students needed to keep up with rapid tech advancements, says MP

KUCHING (July 22): Rapid technological innovations necessitate the need for more students to take up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, said Chong Chieng Jen.

The Stampin MP said with the recent influx of foreign investment to establish data centres and cloud-based systems, the country will require a big pool of technical experts to support its economic growth in the coming years.

“You are in an interesting period of time whereby artificial intelligence (AI) and computers are going to take over a lot of your life and you have to adapt to it.

“If not, you will be left out in the whole wave of development and advancement in humanity,” he said in his closing speech at a two-day Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) seminar, co-organised by his parliamentary office here yesterday.

Expressing belief that there is a huge shortage of technical professionals in Sarawak, he said pursuing a career in high-tech industries offers a very promising and rewarding future.

“The future workforce must be willing to adapt to the changing industry landscape and embrace advanced technology such as ChatGPT to achieve best performance in their respective professions,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chong also welcomed the assurance given by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek in Parliament recently that all students who scored at least 10A in SPM will be guaranteed a place in matriculation programmes.