KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — Selangor is strengthening its semiconductor ecosystem by focusing on three key areas: talent development, access to chip design technology, and funding for startups, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
Speaking at the launch of the Selangor AI & Semiconductor Summit (AiSEM), he noted that the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (ASEM) has trained around 850 engineers to date by cooperating with more than 100 universities.
“Every one of them has been placed in on-the-job training or a permanent role, and young engineers in this field start at around RM5,000 a month. These are the high-value jobs our young people deserve,” he said at the event, held in conjunction with the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS), at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur today.
Amirudin added that Selangor’s partnership with chip designer ARM gives companies at the two Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Parks access to world-class chip design tools and intellectual property.
Meanwhile, on capital, he said the Ehsan Semiconductor Fund will raise RM100 million to invest in early-stage semiconductor startups and AI application companies.
“The fund is already backing Malaysian success stories. It invested in SkyeChip, which has since (been) listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia, and in GreatAsic’s US$6.9 million pre-Series A round, and this is only the beginning.
“(It) is now preparing to invest in pioneers of the low-altitude economy and other frontier technologies.
“By backing these companies, Selangor is not just investing in businesses, we are securing our place at the forefront of the next industrial revolution.”
Amirudin also emphasised the importance of retaining local talent and acknowledged the challenges faced by young people, including the lack of jobs upon graduation.
He then highlighted concerns around AI, such as safety, security, authenticity and reliability.
“I do not want Malaysians and Selangoreans to just be consumers of this new technology. I also do not want our data centres to just function as digital warehouses,” Amirudin noted.
