Alhamdulillah.
There are moments in life that make you pause. Not because you’re unsure—but because you feel the weight of something bigger than yourself. Being appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Malaysia IoT Association is one of those moments for me.
I didn’t chase this title. It found me after years of walking the path—failing, building, sharing, writing, and dreaming about how technology could transform our nation. And now, I’ve been entrusted with a greater purpose: to carry the hopes of a growing community of changemakers and to help shape a future that belongs to every Malaysian.
This isn’t just a new role. It’s a calling.
This Land is Full of Potential
Malaysia is not short of talent. We are not short of ideas. But for far too long, we’ve been stuck in wait mode—waiting for foreign platforms, waiting for permission, waiting for funding. We must break that cycle. We must choose action.
Because Malaysia doesn’t need to follow trends anymore.
We have what it takes to create them.
The Role of IoT in Our Nation’s Story
Let’s get one thing straight—IoT is no longer about devices.
It’s about connecting hearts and systems.
It’s about bridging rural and urban, old and new, human and machine.
It’s about giving our nation eyes that can see in real time and ears that can listen before disaster strikes.
From the farms of FELDA to the traffic lights of KL…
From lecture halls to factory floors…
IoT is not just a tool. It’s a lifeline.
And what many don’t realise is—AI needs data.
But not just any data. It needs real-world, real-time, reliable data.
And IoT is the only way we can feed that intelligence.
A Personal Mission, A National Cause
So what do I see ahead?
I see a Malaysia that no longer depends on imported systems we don’t control.
I see homegrown platforms like FAVORIOT becoming the national backbone.
I see students graduating not with theoretical knowledge—but with hands-on IoT skills, certified and industry-ready.
Every Majlis Perbandaran has its own IoT dashboard, managing waste, lighting, traffic, and water in real-time.
I see SMEs embracing smart automation—not fearing it.
But more than anything…
I see people—living safer, healthier, and more connected lives.
The Time is Now
Some say we’re not ready yet.
But if we keep waiting for perfect conditions, we’ll never move.
Neither was Korea ready in the 1980s. Or China in the 1990s. But they moved.
And now the world watches them.
It’s our turn.
Let’s start messy. Let’s start small.
But most importantly—let’s start now.
To the Silent Fighters
To every young innovator quietly coding in a dorm room.
To every lecturer who buys sensors out of pocket to teach their students.
To every entrepreneur who builds despite rejection after rejection.
I see you.
And in this new role, I carry your hopes with me.
Let us walk this path together—not because it’s easy. But because it matters.
A Final Word from the Heart
This journey is no longer mine alone. It belongs to all of us who believe in a better digital Malaysia.
To those who built the foundation before me—thank you.
To my peers in MyIoTA and the wider tech community—I’m ready to stand with you.
And to the next generation—we’re building this for you.
Let’s make IoT not just a technology—but a legacy.
Let’s make Malaysia not just relevant—but revolutionary.
The future doesn’t wait.
And neither should we.
Bismillah. We begin.
Dr. Mazlan Abbas 