GEORGE TOWN, April 28 – Former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng advocates for Penang to seize the opportunity presented by Selangor’s semiconductor success and establish its own semiconductor accelerator and IC design park. With Penang’s existing expertise in back-end chip manufacturing, transitioning to front-end IC design work could solidify its status as Malaysia’s Silicon Valley and drive innovation in microchip technology, essential for electronic devices.
Lim Guan Eng’s call comes in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement of a semiconductor accelerator and IC design hub in Selangor, involving key partnerships with industry giants like Arm Holdings and local players such as SkyeChip Sdn Bhd. As expressions of interest from Chinese semiconductor companies pour in, Penang must focus on retaining and nurturing its homegrown talent and companies to ensure sustainable growth and competitiveness in the global semiconductor market.
