PUCHONG, July 28 — The graduates of the Advanced Semiconductor Academy Malaysia (ASEM) have secured well-paying jobs in the semiconductor industry, demonstrating the effectiveness of the training programme to prepare local talents for high value careers, said Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
Some graduates had received attractive job offers even before completing the programme, showing a strong industry demand for skilled semiconductor professionals.
"Some of the graduates we recognised today have already received job offers with very good salaries.
“This shows that the programme is producing the talent needed by the industry," he said during a media conference after the ASEM Malaysian Talents Graduation and Appreciation ceremony at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel today.
The ceremony also recognised 454 participants who completed integrated circuit (IC) design training under ASEM across nine cohorts, marking another milestone in the nation’s semiconductor talent development efforts.
Akmal added that the initiative formed part of the government's broader strategy to strengthen Malaysia's semiconductor talent pipeline and support its ambition to move further up the global semiconductor value chain.
The country is currently ranked sixth globally in the semiconductor industry, especially in assembly, testing, and packaging.
Nonetheless, the minister said that Malaysia aims to strengthen its position by expanding into higher value activities such as IC design.
"Our strength today lies in assembly and testing, but advancing further takes time.
“We need to move into higher value segments, particularly chip design, and that requires access to IC design capabilities and the right ecosystem," he said.
To support that transition, the government is working with United Kingdom semiconductor and software design company Arm Ltd to provide local companies with access to semiconductor intellectual property through token allocations, while expanding industry focused training programmes.
Training initiatives organised by ASEM and its industry partners are designed to equip participants with skills that match employers' needs.
"The training and skills provided must remain relevant to industry demand. That is why the programme is developed together with strategic industry partners," Akmal said.
When asked how the government plans to ensure graduates remain in Malaysia instead of seeking opportunities overseas, he said the focus is to strengthen both the industry's capacity to create quality jobs and the capabilities of local talent.
Malaysia must also continue to develop a stronger semiconductor ecosystem that offers not only competitive salaries but also long-term career progression.
"The challenge is to raise our talent to a much higher level. The opportunities are still wide open, and we must continue upgrading their capabilities so they choose to stay because of the ecosystem we are building.
"Career progression is not just about salary. It is also about giving our talents opportunities to innovate, design chips, and access grants that support their ideas," he said.
The graduates, comprising engineering undergraduates, fresh graduates and working professionals, underwent specialised training in Digital IC Design, Analog IC Design, Embedded System Firmware, Embedded Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence Robotics to prepare them for careers in the country's growing semiconductor and technology industries.
They were trained between February 2025 and June 2026 through the National Semiconductor Excellence Programme and the Global Semiconductor Exchange Programme, which together provide technical training, practical industry exposure, and international learning opportunities to strengthen Malaysia's semiconductor talent pipeline.
To date, ASEM has produced more than 723 alumni, partnered with over 10 global universities and research institutes, and collaborated with more than 150 industry partners as part of efforts to strengthen Malaysia's semiconductor talent pipeline.
In a similar development, Akmal said the government is expected to announce the next recipients of Arm's CSS and Arm Flexible Access tokens within the next two to three weeks, subject to the completion of administrative processes.
Applications are being assessed based on companies' technical capabilities, commitment to creating jobs, and willingness to strengthen the national domestic semiconductor ecosystem.
