Kuala Lumpur: Initiatives such as the Digital Leadership Excellence (DLE) Programme play a crucial role in enhancing Malaysia's global competitiveness while supporting ASEAN's inclusive and sustainable growth, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, industry, and academia in creating a robust ecosystem for innovation, talent development, and national progress.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi expressed that Malaysia's role in shaping a digitally driven future is critical as the country assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship this year. The DLE programme reflects this commitment, equipping digital leaders to drive innovation and impact. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the MADANI government is dedicated to building a competitive, future-ready Malaysia.
The DLE Programme, a collaborative initiative by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Huawei Malaysia), successfully concluded its first chapter with the graduation of the programme's first cohort of 50 leaders from government, industry, and academia.
Fahmi highlighted key initiatives from the programme, including the AI National Higher Education Hub project piloted by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, which aims to position Malaysia as a leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) education hub in the region by 2030. Additionally, the ESG Adoption for Malaysia SME Sustainability Project helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) adopt sustainable practices through a digital ecosystem supported by government agencies. Other initiatives focus on workforce upskilling, public service transformation, and smart mobility solutions.
Fahmi encouraged leaders from both the public and private sectors to participate in the DLE Programme and join future cohorts, describing it as a transformative journey that equips leaders with essential skills, insights, and connections to drive real-world impact.
Meanwhile, Huawei Malaysia chief executive officer Simon Sun expressed pride in partnering with Malaysia's digital leaders to build a talent ecosystem that will propel the nation into becoming a digital powerhouse in the region. He noted that the collaboration is a mutual learning opportunity and looked forward to accelerating digital and intelligent transformation together.
The DLE programme is an intensive eight-month hybrid training initiative covering key domains such as 5G, AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, Big Data, Green Technology, and Cybersecurity. Launched in March 2024, the programme was developed in response to the Prime Minister's call at the 2023 Malaysia ICT Summit hosted by Huawei Malaysia to bridge the gap between leadership and technology.
The DLE programme aims to develop 300 Malaysian digital leaders by 2026, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to spearhead digital transformation within their organizations and enhance operational efficiencies. The second chapter of the programme will engage 100 participants, while the third and final chapter will target 150 participants.