Speech At The Launching of Penang STEM

Speech by Chief Minister of Penang At The Launching of Penang STEM 29 July 2017 Sunway Carnival Mall

Ladies and gentlemen

Today marks an important chapter for Penang State Government in our effort to cultivate Science and Technology to encourage and awareness of Industry 4.0.

Over the past 6 years, the Penang State Government has been nurturing and establishing several STEM centres, namely Penang Science Cluster (PSC), Tech Dome Penang (TDP), Karpal Singh Penang Learning Centre (KSPLC), aCAT Penang (@CAT) and Penang Digital Library (PDC). Each has been well received and successful in their own different ways.

However, not enough of our youth and children have sufficient awareness and access to quality Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities and programmes. That is why we have formed Penang STEM Sdn Bhd, an umbrella organization consisting of 6 centres such as:

1. Penang Skill Development Centre (PSDC) which has been established 28 years ago
2. Penang Science Cluster (PSC)
3. Karpal Singh Penang Learning Centre (KSPLC)
4. Tech Dome Penang (TDP)
5. @CAT Penang (@CAT)
6. Penang Digital Library (PDL)

The 6 centres combined have over 250 STEM-related programmes. I would like to see these available, not only to the urban young, but also to the rural and to the ones neglected and left behind. STEM education has the power to change and impact their lives. It would also open their eyes and minds to new and coming career opportunities.

I am happy to see that Penang STEM has brought their first public launch to here in Seberang Jaya. I expect to see Penang STEM playing a big role to help create human talent to drive and support the Digital Economy and the 4th Industrial Revolution.

This is the theme of Penang STEM’s logo – to be involved in Industry 4.0 involving Big Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, robotics, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT).

Thank you.