AI won’t replace supply chain workers but it will change their jobs

 

A RECENT paper, The Impact of AI on Job Opportunities and Challenges in the Supply Chain Sector, offers a welcome dose of realism in a debate often dominated by extremes.

It neither predicts a robot takeover nor promises a future of effortless efficiency. Instead, it highlights a more nuanced reality: artificial intelligence is transforming supply chains, and the greatest challenge may not be the technology itself but how organisations and workers adapt to it.

AI is unlikely to eliminate supply chain jobs overnight. However, it is increasingly replacing routine and repetitive tasks such as inventory tracking, basic procurement functions, manual data entry and demand forecasting. As these activities become automated, the role of human workers is evolving.

For decades, supply chain management was often viewed as a back-office function, characterised by labour-intensive processes and operational inefficiencies.

Today, AI is helping organisations automate routine work, allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities such as problem-solving, supplier management, strategic planning and handling unexpected disruptions.

The paper highlights an important shift in the labour market. Traditional roles centred on repetitive administrative work are gradually declining, while demand is growing for positions that combine operational knowledge with digital skills.

Roles involving AI oversight, supply chain analytics, exception management and logistics optimisation are becoming increasingly important.

One of the study’s most encouraging findings is that organisations adopting AI responsibly are not necessarily reducing their workforce. Instead, many are redeploying employees into more productive and higher-skilled roles. Workers who once spent hours performing manual tasks are increasingly being trained to monitor systems, interpret data and manage AI-driven processes.

This represents job evolution rather than simple job displacement.

However, the transition is not without challenges.

The paper warns that the gap between technological capability and workforce readiness is widening. Many employees currently working in supply chains were trained to follow established procedures rather than evaluate algorithmic recommendations or oversee automated systems. Yet these are precisely the skills that will become increasingly important in AI-enabled workplaces.

Without significant investment in reskilling and digital literacy, organisations risk creating a divide between a small group of highly skilled specialists and a larger workforce struggling to adapt to technological change. Such a scenario would undermine both productivity and workplace cohesion.

The study also raises important questions about accountability and transparency. As AI systems become more involved in operational decisions, organisations must ensure there is still clear human oversight.

When an AI system recommends rerouting a shipment, adjusting inventory levels or delaying supplier payments, who is responsible for explaining or reviewing those decisions? These questions become increasingly important as businesses place greater reliance on automated systems.

For business leaders, the message is clear. AI should not be viewed simply as a tool for reducing labour costs. The organisations most likely to succeed will be those that invest in both technology and people.

Technology can improve efficiency, but long-term success depends on having employees who understand how to work alongside AI, question its outputs when necessary and make informed decisions when circumstances change.

Industry bodies and workforce organisations also have an important role to play. Training and upskilling can no longer be treated as optional initiatives.

Continuous learning must become a core component of workforce development, particularly in sectors facing rapid technological change.

For young people considering careers in supply chain management, the outlook remains promising. AI is changing the nature of work, but it is also creating new opportunities.

As automation takes over repetitive tasks, human workers will increasingly focus on analysis, decision-making, relationship management and strategic planning.

The future supply chain workforce will require a blend of technical competence, digital literacy and human judgement. These are capabilities that machines cannot easily replicate.

The real challenge, therefore, is not whether AI will transform supply chains. That transformation is already underway. The challenge is ensuring that workers, businesses and institutions are prepared for it.

The robot in the warehouse is not the enemy. Complacency is. 

The author, Professor Datuk Dr Ahmad Ibrahim is affiliated with the Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy Studies at UCSI University and is an Adjunct Professor at the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.

Selangor must listen to concerns over worship guidelines

 

OVER the past few days, I have been following the discussions and concerns raised regarding the proposed guidelines for non-Islamic places of worship in Selangor.

I understand why many people are worried, and I want to assure everyone that these concerns are not being ignored.

For many of us, temples, churches and gurdwaras hold deep meaning and are much more than buildings. They are places where families gather, communities come together and faith is nurtured. That is why I understand why this issue matters so much to many people.

As Co-Chairman of LIMAS, I work closely with these communities and religious institutions. Over the years, I have met with temple committees, church leaders and community representatives to help resolve issues involving land, approvals and other longstanding matters. As such, when concerns are raised, I take them seriously.

Some have asked where I was when these guidelines were approved, including through a recent article in Focus Malaysia.

I respect the right of anyone to ask that question, but I also believe that being in government is not simply about approving documents. It is also about listening to feedback and being prepared to review decisions when genuine concerns arise.

That is exactly what happened in this case. Once feedback began coming from religious groups and community leaders, the Selangor Government decided to pause the implementation of the guidelines and conduct further engagement.

To me, this is not a sign that something has gone wrong. Rather, it demonstrates a willingness to listen and respond to the concerns of the people.

These guidelines were never intended to restrict religious freedom or make life more difficult for non-Islamic communities.

They form part of a broader review of planning guidelines aimed at ensuring development in Selangor remains orderly and sustainable as the state continues to grow.

There has also been some confusion regarding access to places of worship from main roads. There is no ban. Discussions regarding service roads were based on traffic flow and safety considerations, particularly during major religious celebrations when attendance can be very large. The intention was never to restrict access to places of worship.

There have also been claims that temples and shrines would be demolished. This is not true. The provision applies only to temporary shrines located within active construction sites and does not give anyone the authority to arbitrarily demolish places of worship.

As for the proposed land size and building height requirements, these were intended as planning recommendations. If there are aspects that require further discussion or improvement, then we should discuss them openly and work together to find better solutions.

It is also important to consider the Selangor government’s track record on this issue. Since 2008, a total of 481 plots of land have been approved and issued for non-Islamic religious purposes.

Under the current administration alone, 57 sites have been approved, while another 40 applications are being processed. By the end of this year, the total number of approved sites is expected to exceed 500.

This reflects years of work to help temples, churches and other places of worship obtain proper land status and resolve longstanding issues.

I do not view this as a conflict between the government and the community. The feedback we have received is valuable because it helps identify areas that require improvement and ensures that any final guidelines are practical, fair and accepted by the communities they affect.

I will continue engaging religious organisations, community leaders, local councils and all relevant stakeholders. Our goal is simple: to protect religious freedom, address practical concerns and ensure that planning policies work for everyone.

I look forward to continuing to work with all parties to find the best solutions to issues that affect our communities. 

V. Papparaidu Veraman is a Selangor state exco member and co-chairman of LIMAS.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia

Tax sweetened condensed milk to fight diabetes, says think tank

 

THE Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy has called on the government to introduce an excise tax on sweetened condensed milk and sweetened creamer as part of Malaysia’s efforts to combat diabetes, obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Its chief executive officer, Azrul Mohd Khalib, said sweetened condensed milk remains one of the most common yet overlooked sources of added sugar in the Malaysian diet, despite the implementation of the sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax.

“Malaysia has implemented an SSB tax, but one of the largest everyday contributors to added sugar remains largely unaddressed. Sweetened condensed milk is widely used in beverages such as teh tarik, kopi and Milo, as well as in desserts, baked goods and home cooking,” he said in a statement.

Azrul said the widespread use of condensed milk means consumers are often unaware of how much sugar they are consuming, particularly when dining at restaurants, kopitiams and mamak outlets.

He noted that findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 showed that 15.6% of Malaysian adults have diabetes, while 29.2% have hypertension, 33.3% have high cholesterol, and 54.4% are overweight or obese.

“The burden of NCDs continues to grow, and the age of onset is becoming younger. These conditions are closely linked and contribute significantly to kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, blindness and other serious  health complications,” Azrul continued.

According to the Galen Centre, NCDs cost Malaysia an estimated RM64.2 bil in 2021, equivalent to 4.2% of gross domestic product (GDP). This included RM12.4 bil in healthcare expenditure and RM51.8 bil in productivity losses.

Azrul said preventive measures were necessary to reduce future healthcare costs and improve public health outcomes.

The think tank proposed that the government introduce a tiered excise tax on sweetened condensed milk, sweetened creamer and similar milk-based products based on sugar content per 100g. Products with higher sugar content would attract higher tax rates, while reformulated lower-sugar products would be taxed at lower rates.

It also proposed extending the tax to commercial and bulk supplies used by restaurants, cafés, bakeries, kopitiams and food manufacturers.

The Galen Centre said revenue generated from the tax should be ring-fenced for diabetes screening, early intervention programmes, nutrition education, public awareness campaigns and support for small food operators transitioning to healthier alternatives.

“The Galen Centre urges the Finance Ministry and Health Ministry to include a condensed milk and sweetened creamer excise tax in the 2027 Federal Budget,” Azrul said.

“This should be alongside stronger nutrition labelling, public education and targeted support for lower-income households.” ‒  Focus Malaysia