Lead the way, Dr M tells innovators

SERDANG: Malaysia should have its own technology in the hi-tech industry instead of merely becoming a user of imported products, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Prime Minister said Malaysians have been lacking in coming up with inventions and in utilising them.

“I hope Malaysians will not continue to be users of other people’s products.

“We are very backward in that sense because we just like to use things that are invented and produced by others. We don’t do things ourselves,” he said in his speech at the launch of Malaysia UAV Development Association (Muda) laboratory at the Australian International School Malaysia yesterday.

Dr Mahathir, who expressed his interest in technology, said that Malaysia needs to be a producer in moving towards a developed nation. He also called on Malaysians to emulate China, saying the Chinese there want to produce the products themselves.

“They are now a big producer of many things such as airplanes, rockets and satellites, including sending people into space.

“All they need is to be given a plan and they will develop it at a relatively low cost.

“If China can do that, I don’t see why we cannot,” he said.

On the Muda laboratory, Dr Mahathir said he hoped the interest in aircraft and drones would propel Malaysians to build, control and manage the technologies.

He also stressed on the importance of understanding and mastering artificial intelligence apart from developing new technologies.

“It is one the most interesting fields. Now, machines can teach humans. If we understand the programming, we will be able to advance,” he said.

Also present during the launch were Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar and Muda founder Datuk Lester Tay Kean Boon.

Tay said Muda has been working on developing the first Malaysian-made drone and the model is expected to be ready by the first quarter of next year.