Selangor: Selangor is stepping up efforts to develop local skilled talent in semiconductor chip design, in line with aspirations to make Malaysia a global chip design hub and reduce reliance solely on assembly and testing activities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative offers training subsidies of up to RM10,000 per participant to develop skills in the semiconductor front-end sector, with a focus on integrated circuit (IC) design and embedded systems, which are high-value segments of the global industry.
State Investment, Trade and Mobility Committee chairman Ng Sze Han stated that the state government has launched three key programmes: the National Semiconductor Excellence Programme (NSEP), Global Semiconductor Exchange (GSEP), and Chip Start-up Initiative, to support the Malaysian IC Design Park in Puchong. He mentioned that this move signifies Selangor's shift from attracting investment to developing a sustainable, talent-driven ecosystem.
Ng emphasized that to become a regional hub, Selangor needs not just infrastructure and multinational companies, but also world-class talent to drive chip design and innovation. The programmes aim to address talent gaps in critical sectors and ensure local communities gain access to high-impact skills needed by the global semiconductor industry. Efforts are also focused on attracting Malaysian talent from abroad to accelerate knowledge transfer and sustainably strengthen the state's semiconductor ecosystem.
He further explained that this initiative represents a direct investment in the people, noting that the IC design sector offers high-value job opportunities with more competitive starting salaries and long-term career prospects.
MAG Auto Garage Services director Dr Azlina Ahmad commented on the growing demand for IC design and embedded systems talent over the next five years, driven by AI, IoT, data centres, and electric vehicles. She noted that the state government's move is timely in addressing the rapidly growing technology sector and its shift towards high-value applications. According to her, all these sectors rely heavily on complex electronic system design and integration, boosting demand for local engineers with specialised skills and industry experience.
Dr Azlina highlighted that industry-focused training programmes like this help close the gap between local graduates' skills and industry demands, ensuring they are job-ready. She believes that structured talent development could drive long-term growth in Malaysia's semiconductor ecosystem, strengthen the domestic value chain, and enhance the country's appeal as a high-tech investment hub.
Earlier, Ng mentioned that the state government offers up to RM10,000 per person to help citizens gain free training in semiconductors, IC design, or embedded systems.