KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 – Malaysia is stepping up its game in the semiconductor playing field, moving up the value chain by focusing on the front-end segment, said Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
He noted that Malaysia has a competitive edge in the semiconductor sector, having been a key player in the electrical and electronics industry for over five decades.
The minister highlighted that the country’s semiconductor exports currently hold a global market share of seven per cent.
“We have a slight advantage due to our track record and the ecosystem established by both Malaysian companies and multinational corporations,” said Tengku Zafrul, adding that the multinational companies have created numerous opportunities for local companies to thrive.
Speaking at Bloomberg’s virtual forum, “Spotlight on ASEAN Business: Charting New Frontiers,” on Monday, he said Malaysia is aiming to move to the higher-value front-end of the sector.
“Companies are also moving towards that direction. They are coming to Malaysia and you can see investments in larger amounts,” the minister said.
He cited companies in Singapore expanding their operations into Malaysia as an example, where the front-end of the semiconductor process is mainly done in Singapore, with mid- to back-end operations often taking place in Malaysia.
