Malaysia seeks to expand STEM opportunities for rural students

Malaysian leaders are calling for the expansion of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) opportunities to ensure equitable talent development, particularly for students in rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak. During the finals of the National Science Challenge (NSC) 2026, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chang Lih Kang emphasized that talent is not limited to urban centers, noting that Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School emerged as the champion.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, through a speech delivered by Chang Lih Kang, stressed the necessity of strengthening the national ecosystem to transform school-level ideas into research, innovation, and enterprises. The Prime Minister stated that Malaysia must transition from being a consumer of technology to a creator and owner of technology to address challenges such as food security, energy supply, and artificial intelligence.

To support this, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to foster critical thinking and continuous talent development through platforms like the NSC, Techlympics, and National Science Week.