Loo says Malaysia, including Penang, is in a sweet spot to attracting semiconductor industry players.The formulation of a comprehensive semiconductor plan is timely for Malaysia to secure a position at the forefront of the global supply chain, according to InvestPenang CEO Loo Lee Lian.
“Malaysia, including Penang, is in a sweet spot to attracting semiconductor industry players given the nation’s neutrality during the United States-China trade war, which allows the nation to host semiconductor companies from the US and China, as well as other nations, so they can invest and operate within the country,” she told Bernama.
“Hence, the blueprint should address the issues that caused the talent availability and the readiness of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, such as skill mismatch, brain drains, availability of upskilling or reskilling programmes, the restrictive hiring process for expatriate and relevance of syllabus in universities,” she said.
“This focus on education will aim to provide Malaysians with the skills needed to drive innovation and maintain the country’s competitive advantage,” he added. “The government’s strategic focus on company development, workforce education and infrastructure improvement put Malaysia on a good track to achieve higher revenue and exports for the sector,” Wong said.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the semiconductor strategic plan aligns with the initiatives under NIMP 2030.