LETTERS: Melaka's economy is too dependent on tourism. The Covid-19 pandemic has hit hard the tourism sectors.
Melaka needs to diversify its economic base. Being too dependent on one sector is unwise. We have seen how tourism can be easily disrupted. This time by a pandemic.
Not long ago, the disruptive factor was drought, when hotels ran out of water to operate. Unfortunately, Melaka has not been looking at technology to power its economy.
With its large reserve of seawater, desalination technology would have saved the day.
As a coastal city, there are many potential benefits of Melaka going sustainable. But this cannot happen without the deployment of technology, especially digital technology.
There is a way how Melaka can become a major technology player.
Melaka should first create an efficient ecosystem for the development of the many advanced technologies that the world is busy investing in.
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka should be given the task of functioning as the focal point of such an ecosystem. There are models in many countries where a technical university can perform such a role.
Germany, for example, has many technical universities that function as drivers of new technologies which industry needs. To do this, these universities should create under their wings applied research centres to act as links with industry.
While the universities engage in the more fundamental research, the applied research centres will develop the technologies needed by industry.
In Germany, the Fraunhofer network of applied research institutes acts as the bridge linking technical universities and industries.
There are many technologies that Melaka can consider championing. Advanced composite material is one. Thanks to the pressures created by sustainability and climate change, the world demands materials that are light, strong, and resilient. One material that has generated world interest is the carbon fibre composite.
Melaka already has businesses dealing with carbon fibre composite, such as Composites Technology Research Malaysia, which makes aeroplane parts for Airbus SE, and Dian Creative, which makes yachts from the material.
Scientists are experimenting with natural fibre to replace carbon. Melaka can also look at artificial intelligence-driven waste treatment technologies.
In this era of computerisation and cybersecurity, quantum technology has also stood out as one of promise.
With the right sighting of the emerging technologies, using the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka as an anchor, there is no reason why the state cannot diversify its economy to become a technology powerhouse.
PROFESSOR DATUK DR AHMAD IBRAHIM
Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy, UCSI University
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times