By Danial Dzulkifly
PUCHONG, Aug 6 — The Federal government will review the application by Selangor to launch a second integrated circuit (IC) design park in the state, tentatively in Cyberjaya, said Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.
Currently, the government’s strategy is to focus on establishing more IC design companies in the country rather than prioritising lavish infrastructure projects or constructing new physical parks to house semiconductor firms.
“The total cost to get the park ready and attract IC design players here for three years is only RM8 million; it is actually not much. I know that the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) has requested more budget for new places. We will go through it in phases.
“But my commitment is this: if we are able to multiply the number of industry players who want to come and set up IC design shops here, I do not think money is a problem because it does not cost much.
“One highway costs a few billion ringgit. Between building a highway somewhere in the Klang Valley and investing a few million into more IC design parks, I would rather invest in the parks, provided we can get more companies to open shops here. So, let us focus on this,” he said.
Rafizi was speaking at the launch of the country’s first IC Design Park at the Puchong Financial Corporate Centre today.
Sidec, a Selangor state subsidiary, has been tasked as the project manager for the 70,044 square foot facility.
Its chief executive officer Yong Kai Ping said the state plans to launch a second IC Design Park in Cyberjaya, located strategically adjacent to Malaysia’s administrative capital of Putrajaya.
“We are looking at a bigger space and hope to see its launch by early or middle of next year,” he told Selangor Journal following today’s launch.
