By Danial Dzulkifly
PUCHONG, April 10 — The Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) is considering the establishment of a specialised recruitment agency to assist local semiconductor companies in securing critical talent, said its chief executive officer Yong Kai Ping.
Yong said the proposed agency will focus on sourcing top talent for semiconductor firms operating in Selangor, especially those based in the state’s IC Design Parks.
“This industry requires very niche skill sets and deep technical knowledge. Many Malaysians with the right expertise are already working abroad, in Taiwan, Vietnam, and especially Singapore.
“These are usually senior-level individuals, and we need to headhunt them to work with our junior staff to speed up development,” he said on the sidelines of the Brazil x Malaysia Bilateral Semiconductor Industry Development Programme held at Four Points by Sheraton here today.
[caption id="attachment_396905" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
(From left) Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation chief executive officer Yong Kai Ping, state executive councillor for investment, trade and mobility Ng Sze Han, and Embassy of Brazil in Kuala Lumpur representative Felipe Salgueiro Lermen listen to a talk at the Brazil x Malaysia Bilateral Semiconductor Industry Development Programme, held at Four Points by Sheraton, Puchong, on April 10, 2025. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Yong said while national-level agencies like TalentCorp cater to a wide range of sectors, the semiconductor industry demands a far more tailored and technically grounded approach.
“TalentCorp’s scope is very broad. What we’re doing is very specific. We’re focused on foundry services, IC design, digital, analogue, and other highly specialised areas.
“This is deep technical work that most people outside the industry may not fully understand. That’s why we believe a dedicated agency can provide more targeted solutions for the semiconductor ecosystem,” he said.
Yong added that Sidec is evaluating whether the initiative should operate under the firm’s existing structure or be spun off into a new entity to focus solely on talent acquisition for the semiconductor sector.
He said the proposed agency would also complement Sidec’s training efforts through the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (Asem), particularly in placing graduates in relevant roles and providing critical technical upskilling.
Currently, a dedicated campus for Asem is under construction in Cyberjaya, located near the upcoming Selangor IC Design Park 2, which will be housed within the Cyberview tech hub.
Meanwhile, the first Selangor IC Design Park in Puchong, located in the Puchong Financial Corporate Centre and spanning about 5,575sqm, is fully occupied by global semiconductor players such as MaiStorage, Skyechip, Weeroc, AppAsia ChipsBank, and SensoremTek Sdn Bhd.
