KULAI, July 16 — Johor is set to become the production base for artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cleaning robots under a technology transfer partnership between a local company and a Chinese robotics firm.
Indah Holding Venture (M) Sdn Bhd director Datuk B Ravintharan said the company plans to manufacture the robots at its Senai factory for export and the domestic market.
Ravintharan said the collaboration followed an introduction by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) to a Chinese robotics company seeking a local partner.
He said Indah Holding, which currently provides conventional cleaning services, has invested about RM850,000 in its factory, renovations and production facilities.
The first robot, valued at about RM35,000, is expected to arrive on July 26 or 27 for testing, assembly and production preparation.
“Our first customer has projected demand of up to 70,000 units a year. Based on that forecast, we are targeting annual sales of between RM18 million and RM20 million during the initial phase from 2026 to 2028.
“Within five years, we aim to increase annual sales to RM50 million by expanding into new markets and lowering production costs,” he told Bernama.
Ravintharan said the robots will be manufactured in Johor before being exported to the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Europe. The company also plans to introduce them to the domestic market within one to two years, targeting commercial users such as shopping malls, factories, airports and data centres.
He said the project is expected to create hundreds of jobs in its initial phase, particularly for local technicians and engineers.
“We want to employ an entirely local workforce, especially Johoreans. We do not want to recruit only production operators. Instead, we want to train technicians and skilled workers capable of operating robotic technology,” he said.
Ravintharan said the company also plans to source plastic, metal and electronic components from local suppliers to ensure small and medium enterprises (SMEs) benefit from the project’s supply chain.
He said Senai was selected for its strategic location within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and proximity to Senai International Airport, the North-South Expressway and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas.
Meanwhile, Indah Holding chairman Datuk Sivasuriyamoorthy Sundara Raja said the project supports the government’s push for greater local participation in high-technology manufacturing and aligns with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the Johor Economic Transformation Plan (JETP).
MIDA Johor director Mohamad Reduan Mohd Zabri said the project reflects growing participation by local companies in advanced manufacturing and supports efforts to develop Johor as a high-technology manufacturing hub.
“The project is also aligned with the Federal and Johor governments’ goal of positioning Johor as a leading high-technology manufacturing hub,” he said.
He said MIDA would continue working with the Johor government and relevant agencies to identify more local companies with the potential to become part of the JS-SEZ ecosystem.
He added that growing investment in the JS-SEZ would create significant opportunities for local SMEs to participate in high-technology industries, supply chains and supporting sectors.
