Tap opportunities in booming semiconductor industry, PM tells youths
JOHOR BAHRU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on youths to fully seize the opportunities arising from the rapid growth of the semiconductor industry in the country, which is now attracting the attention of major global corporations.
He said Malaysia has emerged as a key semiconductor hub in the region, not only in the lower segments of the supply chain but also as a preferred destination for top-tier foreign investors.
'As I mentioned earlier, Malaysia is now a semiconductor hub in this region, not just at the back-end or lower-end stages. Major companies such as Infineon in Kedah, NVIDIA in Johor, and just yesterday, MaiStorage in Cyberjaya have chosen to operate here.
'Just imagine, three global semiconductor giants are already established in Malaysia. Our young people must take full advantage of this momentum to benefit from these developments and help elevate Malaysia as a leading nation in the region,' he said.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the Johor 2025 MADANI Rakyat Programme (PMR) launch at Toppen Shopping Centre here today, which was also attended by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who is the lead minister for the programme, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
In line with this, Anwar stressed that the nation's youths, particularly those involved in engineering, information technology, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), must capitalise on the positive momentum in the semiconductor industry.
He revealed that Malaysia is among only five countries capable of producing chips developed by MaiStorage, a significant achievement shared with advanced economies such as the United States, China and Taiwan.
'This milestone would not have been possible without the dedication of our young talent. Students pursuing engineering and TVET must continue working hard to enhance the nation's capabilities,' he said.
Anwar also reiterated the importance of maintaining national stability and unity, noting that the progress achieved could be undermined if racial, religious or self-serving political divisions are allowed to fester.
'We must eliminate elements that weaken the nation. Only then can we realise the true meaning of independence for our people and our country, when we are able to manage our own interests independently,' he added.
The MADANI Rakyat 2025 Johor programme, themed 'Belia MADANI, Yakin Boleh!' (MADANI Youth, Yes We Can!), features a wide array of activities, including exhibition booths, interactive sessions with government agencies, TVET showcases, a career carnival and MADANI sales.
Johor is the second stop of the PMR 2025 national roadshow following Sabah (held from May 9 to 11), with upcoming locations including Lumut (Perak), Kuala Terengganu (Terengganu), Kota Lama (Kelantan), Nilai (Negeri Sembilan), Baling (Kedah), Jasin (Melaka) and Bintulu (Sarawak).
The Johor leg of PMR 2025 is also held in conjunction with the National Youth Day state-level celebrations, serving as a dual-purpose platform that unites youth voices and potential with the direct delivery of government services to the people.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
15 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Trade talks 'progressing well', Malaysia and US aim to finalise by 90-day deadline
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and the United States are aiming to finalise tariff negotiations before the 90-day pause on implementation expires, with both parties agreeing to intensify efforts toward a mutually acceptable outcome for key stakeholders in both countries. Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry today said its separate meetings with US Trade Representative ambassador Jamieson Greer and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick had made positive progress. "The Malaysian delegation led by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz ensured that the meetings with the US Trade Representative and the US Secretary of Commerce was also optimised as a platform to enhance bilateral investment and trade ties between Malaysia and the US, while also. "These will also form part of the expected outcome of the negotiations, which Miti hopes will be finalised before the end of the 90-day pause on tariff implementation," it said in a statement. Tengku Zafrul, who led a working visit to Washington DC on June 18, said the negotiations are expected to boost Malaysia's supply chain resilience. He added that the outcomes could benefit local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and generate more high-paying jobs for Malaysians. "All these will further strengthen Malaysia's position as a choice investment destination in the region, while driving the Madani economic transformation agenda towards a high-tech and higher-income nation," he added. Tengku Zafrul said Malaysia's exports to the US recorded their eighth straight month of double-digit growth in May 2025, with the US remaining one of the country's top three export destinations over the past decade. He noted that a significant portion of these exports supports US domestic industries, particularly in sectors like electrical and electronics (E&E), semiconductors, medical devices, machinery, equipment, and components. "Malaysia has also been an important source of intermediate goods to US-based manufacturing industries. "The ministry has also remained steadfast in doing its utmost to uphold Malaysia's interests in all trade and investment relations with all trading partners, particularly in maintaining the integrity of Malaysia's domestic commitments and its sovereign rights," he said.
The Star
25 minutes ago
- The Star
M'sia-US tariff negotiations on track, says Tengku Zafrul
PETALING JAYA: With about two weeks before unilateral tariffs begin, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz says meetings with the US in Washington DC are progressing well. Tengku Zafrul states that two meetings took place between June 18 and 20 with the US Trade Representative and the US Secretary of Commerce. He mentions both Malaysian and US representatives aim to finalise negotiations before the 90-day pause on tariff implementation ends. 'They also agreed to intensify efforts to reach an agreement acceptable to key stakeholders from both countries,' says Tengku Zafrul on Sunday (June 22). The statement from the ministry adds that the Malaysian delegation led by Tengku Zafrul used the meetings with US officials to enhance bilateral investment and trade ties. 'This will also form part of the expected outcome of the negotiations, which Miti hopes will be finalised before the end of the 90-day pause on tariff implementation,' said the ministry. Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul hopes these negotiations will secure Malaysia's supply chain and benefit Malaysian businesses, especially small-and-medium enterprises. 'All of these will further strengthen Malaysia's position as a choice investment destination in the region, while driving the Madani economic transformation agenda towards a high-tech and higher-income nation,' he adds. As of May this year, Malaysian exports to the US have seen eight consecutive months of double-digit growth, according to Tengku Zafrul. 'The US has been one of Malaysia's top three export markets for the last 10 years. Much of Malaysia's US-bound exports complement US-based industries in sectors like E&E, semiconductors, medical devices, machinery, equipment and parts,' he says. Malaysia faces a 24% tariff on certain exports to the US unless both sides reach an agreement before the 90-day pause ends on July 8.
New Straits Times
29 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Trade talks 'progressing well', Malaysia and US aims to finalise by 90-day deadline
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and the United States are aiming to finalise tariff negotiations before the 90-day pause on implementation expires, with both parties agreeing to intensify efforts toward a mutually acceptable outcome for key stakeholders in both countries. Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry today said its separate meetings with US Trade Representative ambassador Jamieson Greer and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick had made positive progress. "The Malaysian delegation led by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz ensured that the meetings with the US Trade Representative and the US Secretary of Commerce was also optimised as a platform to enhance bilateral investment and trade ties between Malaysia and the US, while also. "These will also form part of the expected outcome of the negotiations, which Miti hopes will be finalised before the end of the 90-day pause on tariff implementation," it said in a statement. Tengku Zafrul, who led a working visit to Washington DC on June 18, said the negotiations are expected to boost Malaysia's supply chain resilience. He added that the outcomes could benefit local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and generate more high-paying jobs for Malaysians. "All these will further strengthen Malaysia's position as a choice investment destination in the region, while driving the Madani economic transformation agenda towards a high-tech and higher-income nation," he added. Tengku Zafrul said Malaysia's exports to the US recorded their eighth straight month of double-digit growth in May 2025, with the US remaining one of the country's top three export destinations over the past decade. He noted that a significant portion of these exports supports US domestic industries, particularly in sectors like electrical and electronics (E&E), semiconductors, medical devices, machinery, equipment, and components. "Malaysia has also been an important source of intermediate goods to US-based manufacturing industries. "The ministry has also remained steadfast in doing its utmost to uphold Malaysia's interests in all trade and investment relations with all trading partners, particularly in maintaining the integrity of Malaysia's domestic commitments and its sovereign rights," he said.
