Malaysia as a Producer Nation: A Dream Worth Building

I want to tell you a story. A story about us. About where we are today, and where we could be ... if only we dare to believe.

For as long as I can remember, Malaysia has been a land of buyers. We buy devices, we buy platforms, we buy solutions. We install, we configure, we use — and we pay. I used to think… is this just how things are? Are we destined always to be the customer, never the creator?

But then, one day, as I sat reflecting on all the brilliant minds I’ve met — engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, students — I felt this stirring inside me. What if? What if we stop being just a consumer nation and start being a Producer Nation? What if we build our own future instead of renting it from someone else?

Why Does It Matter?

Let me share a simple truth: when we buy from others, we help build their nations. Their jobs. Their industries. Their prosperity.

But when we produce our solutions — our own IoT devices, our platforms, our technologies — we:

• Create jobs for our people
• Build industries that belong to us
• Keep our money circulating in our economy
• Shape the future with our values, our needs, our dreams

And maybe, just maybe… we inspire our children to believe that “Made in Malaysia” means world-class.

The Invisible Thread: Why Local Support is the Key

I remember once, watching a small local tech startup struggle to stay afloat. Their product was solid. Their passion is undeniable. But without customers, what can passion do? They needed their community to believe in them. To choose them over foreign giants. To give them that chance to grow.

Here’s what happens when we support local product houses:

• They survive.
• They reinvest in R&D.
• They innovate.
• They grow stronger with every version.

And guess what? That innovation doesn’t stay locked inside their walls. It spills over. It creates opportunities, partnerships, spin-offs. It turns into the next wave of inventions that can change our lives.

That’s the virtuous cycle I dream of.

The Beautiful Dance: University + Industry + Market

There’s a rhythm we need to get right. Let me paint the picture.

Imagine a local company. They have a vision for a product — let’s say a smart cancer detection system. But they know they can’t do it alone. So they lay out a roadmap: where they want to be in 3 years, 5 years. What innovations do they need?

And then? They reach out. They don’t just build behind closed doors. They share their challenges with our universities. I can almost see the eager faces of young researchers and professors as they roll up their sleeves and say, “Let’s solve this together.”

Here’s how the dance unfolds:

• Universities lead the R&D for the Alpha prototype. They apply for grants, they push boundaries, they experiment in their labs. Their strength is in curiosity, in deep research, in daring to explore.
• Industry takes the lead for the Beta prototype. Once the alpha shows promise, it’s time to move fast. To build something the market can actually use. Industry knows how to bring ideas to life, how to meet time-to-market, how to listen to customers.
• Together, they commercialise. The beta becomes the product. The product wins loyalty. The revenue flows. And that revenue? It fuels the next round of R&D.

It’s like a relay race where everyone runs their best stretch. And together, we cross the finish line.

The Power of a Clear Path

When our universities and industries walk this path together, something magical happens:

• Grant bodies see a clear end-to-end plan. They know the research won’t just sit in a journal or on a shelf. It’s heading somewhere. Somewhere real.
• Chances of funding approval soar. Because let’s be honest — no one wants to fund a dead-end.
• Chances of success skyrocket. Because the path from lab to market is built from the start.

I’ve seen too many brilliant ideas die in the gap between R&D and commercialisation. This is how we bridge that gap.

Imagine the Alternative

Let me be blunt. If we don’t support our local producers…

• Our startups will wither
• Our universities will struggle to show impact
• Our industries will forever depend on foreign tech
• Our economy will bleed value overseas

And worst of all? Our young people will start to believe that Malaysia can never be a leader. That we’re forever destined to follow.

I refuse to accept that future.

The Dream I See

I see a Malaysia where:

• We build IoT platforms that the world uses
• We create AI tools tailored for our needs
• Our farmers use local agri-tech devices
• Our factories run on local automation solutions
• Our students graduate knowing they can be creators, not just users

But dreams need action.

What Can We Do?

• If you’re in the market — give local products a chance.
• If you’re in industry — build a roadmap, collaborate, and lead pre-commercialisation efforts.
• If you’re in academia — align your research to real industry needs.
• If you’re in government — support this ecosystem with smart grants and policies.

A Personal Reflection

As I write this, I think of all the times I’ve heard someone say, “Malaysia boleh.” It’s more than a slogan. It’s a call. A reminder that we have the talent, the spirit, the resilience.

Let’s stop waiting for others to define our future.

Let’s produce it ourselves.

If this resonates with you, share it.

Talk about it. Support a local innovator today — because when we lift them, we lift all of us.