This includes training and upskilling 60,000 high-skilled Malaysian engineers.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) with the aim to advance and democratise technology.
The NSS will be led by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), its agencies, and involving various ministries. It is structured in three phases, collectively designed to foster collaboration with companies across ASEAN, Asia, and the global stage.
There are five headline targets for the NSS:
Investments
Malaysia will court a minimum of RM500bn of investments in the first phase, with domestic direct investments focusing on IC design, advanced packaging and manufacturing equipment, and FDI focusing on wafer fabs and manufacturing equipment.
Company growth
By the second phase, the strategy intends to establish at least 10 Malaysian companies in design and advanced packaging with revenues between RM1bn to RM4.7bn, and at least 100 semiconductor-related companies with revenues close to RM1bn, creating higher wages for Malaysian workers
R&D hub
The strategy hopes to develop Malaysia as a global R&D hub for semiconductors, featuring world-class universities, corporate R&D, and centres of excellence, blending top Malaysian and international talent.
Training
Train and Upskill 60,000 high-skilled Malaysian engineers.
Fiscal support
Allocate at least RM25bn in fiscal support to operationalise the NSS with targeted incentives, details of which will be announced by MITI soon.
As part of the strategy, the National Semiconductor Strategic Task Force (NSSTF), with CREST serving as the secretariat, will focus on fostering innovation, enhancing research and development capabilities, and driving the commercialisation of semiconductor technologies.
The NSS will be “a living document, evolving as needed”, to ensure that festivals stay flexible and agile, PM Anwar stated.
Lead image / Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
