KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Selangor is spearheading Malaysia’s efforts to climb the semiconductor value chain, driving a national shift from assembly and testing towards integrated circuit (IC) design and research and development (R&D).
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said this is supported by a 10-year plan to train 20,000 local engineers to meet demand.
Speaking at the Malaysia Semiconductor Recruitment Day, he said Selangor, through the IC Design Park and the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (Asem), is establishing a world-class ecosystem to nurture local talent, attract global partnerships, and retain high-value activities.
“This event marks a milestone not just for Selangor, but for Malaysia’s journey towards becoming a design-driven, innovation-led semiconductor nation,” he said during when officiating the Selangor Smart City and Digital Economy (SDEC), held in conjunction with the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here today.
Amirudin said Asem has trained over 800 people in the past year, with more than 1,500 engineers having completed its programmes since its establishment last year.
The academy is currently partnering with 65 local and international universities, and has collaborated with global industry leaders such as Arm, Synopsys, and Cadence.
“These efforts are not small steps. They are part of a 10-year roadmap to train 20,000 engineers, equipping them with the skills needed to design the chips that power tomorrow’s world,” he said.
This year’s recruitment day gathered 30 semiconductor companies, from local startups to multinational corporations, offering over 600 high-value job opportunities with starting salaries for fresh graduates ranging between RM5,000 and RM6,500.
Amirudin said the initiative is a testament to Selangor’s efforts to develop the local economy to empower the people, generate high-income jobs, and create ripple effects across communities.
“Our collaboration with the federal government through Asem is proof of our commitment. It is a model where policy, industry and education come together to create real, tangible outcomes.”
He added that Selangor has adopted the triple-helix approach to emphasise synergistic interactions between the government, industry and academia, as seen in countries like the Netherlands.
“We don’t just invite big firms to come in; we also have policies to empower local companies, who are encouraged to hire local talent, whom we will train to be world-class IC designers.”
Amirudin expressed confidence that Selangor is on track to become a global IC design hub within the next five years, and urged young engineers and graduates to seize opportunities in Malaysia’s growing semiconductor sector.
“Malaysia is ready for your ideas, passion and ambition. Let Selangor be the beating heart of the nation’s semiconductor design industry.”
