By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 6: Sarawak is positioning itself to play a complementary role within Malaysia’s national semiconductor ecosystem following a high-level engagement between the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) Sarawak and Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST), which explored strategic collaboration, value chain migration, and talent development in the semiconductor sector.
According to a media release today, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Investment Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, received the CREST delegation comprising senior industry leaders and seasoned industrialists from Malaysia’s electrical and electronics (E&E) and semiconductor ecosystem.
The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), underscoring the importance of coordinated Federal–State collaboration in advancing Malaysia’s semiconductor agenda.
The visit was facilitated by InvestSarawak and led by its chief executive officer (CEO) Timothy Ong as part of ongoing efforts to align Sarawak’s industrial development with national priorities.
Led by CREST CEO Jaffri Ibrahim, the delegation included CREST Board director and Clarion Group chairman Tan Teong Khin and executive advisor Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John, and , former board director Ang Hee Lai.
The participation of Clarion Group, a long-established Malaysian industrial player with deep roots in advanced manufacturing, highlighted the industry-led nature of the engagement and its practical focus on value chain integration and industrial execution.
Discussions centred on aligning Sarawak’s industrial growth trajectory with Malaysia’s broader technology and semiconductor ecosystem, particularly through strategies to migrate selected segments of the value chain into higher-value, technology-intensive manufacturing activities.
The engagement also explored opportunities to establish a strategic bridge between Penang’s mature semiconductor cluster and Sarawak’s emerging industrial base.
“Such collaboration can strengthen national supply-chain resilience while supporting more balanced regional development.
“With clear policy direction, a strong commitment to industrial upgrading, and a focus on sustainability, Sarawak has the potential to complement Penang’s established ecosystem and contribute meaningfully to Malaysia’s semiconductor value chain,” Mussen said.
Human capital development emerged as a key theme, with both parties emphasising the need to build a strong, industry-ready talent pipeline in Sarawak.
Discussions covered structured, industry-led approaches to skills development aimed at equipping Sarawakians with advanced capabilities in areas such as integrated circuit (IC) design, advanced manufacturing, and high-technology processes. These initiatives are aligned with the Sarawak Semiconductor Roadmap 2030 and the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
As the secretariat to Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), CREST plays a pivotal role in facilitating collaboration between multinational corporations, local enterprises, and academia.
The engagement marks an important step in aligning Sarawak’s development ambitions with the national E&E and semiconductor ecosystem, leveraging CREST’s mandate to translate industry needs into actionable programmes that support long-term economic resilience and sustainable growth. — DayakDaily
