In a letter-to-editor published in media outlets between 8 to 10 March 2025, Dr. Saat Shukri Embong, Acting President and Group Chief Executive Officer of MIMOS Berhad, calls for Malaysia to move beyond being a semiconductor assembly hub and become a leader in innovation and end-consumer product development. He contended that while Malaysia has a strong manufacturing base, it lacks market access, brand ownership, and a national champion in the semiconductor industry.
He proposed a strategic path forward, advocating for a shift towards developing Malaysian-branded consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and industrial automation solutions to drive domestic demand for locally designed semiconductors. Dr. Shukri suggested leveraging ARM for immediate market entry and investing in RISC-V for long-term technological independence.
Following which, he outlined a four-point action plan:
- Establish a Quadruple Helix National Semiconductor Task Force
- Provide strategic investment in Malaysian chip design firms
- Accelerate talent development in embedded systems and AI
- Develop local consumer electronics and industrial products
Dr. Shukri emphasised that this transformation is crucial for Malaysia’s economic security and national pride, urging bold decisions and decisive leadership to position the nation as a semiconductor powerhouse.
As appeared in:
- Bernama – A Call to Ignite Malaysia’s Semiconductor Sovereignty: Beyond Assembly, Towards Innovation
- Malaysia Gazette – A Call to Ignite Malaysia’s Semiconductor Sovereignty: Beyond Assembly, Towards Innovation
- Free Malaysia Today – Igniting Malaysia’s semiconductor sovereignty beyond assembly
- Malay Mail – A call to ignite Malaysia’s semiconductor sovereignty: beyond assembly, towards innovation — Saat Shukri Embong
