PENANG will continue strengthening its semiconductor ecosystem by supporting homegrown technology companies while ensuring local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) grow alongside them, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
Speaking during an official visit to Mi Equipment at Medan Bayan Lepas Technoplex today, Chow praised the Penang-grown company for its achievements in the highly technology-intensive semiconductor industry.
“It is encouraging to see a local company achieving such remarkable growth while remaining firmly rooted in Penang. Equally commendable is your commitment to local talent development, with 99 per cent of your workforce comprising Malaysians,” he said.
Chow said Mi Equipment’s success reflects the strength of Penang’s industrial ecosystem, where multinational corporations (MNCs) and capable local companies complement one another.
“We hope successful local companies such as Mi Equipment will continue to bring local SMEs along by helping them upskill their technology, expertise and capabilities. That is why Penang is strong as we have a strong ecosystem and a good talent pool,” he said.
He also welcomed Mi Equipment’s participation in the Penang Automated Test Equipment (ATE) Campus initiative, saying it would help accelerate the development and deployment of locally developed semiconductor solutions.
Despite global uncertainties, Chow said Penang remains committed to attracting strategic investments, strengthening local companies’ participation in global supply chains and developing an AI-ready industrial ecosystem.
“As the manufacturing landscape evolves, I encourage companies such as Mi Equipment to continue embracing AI, digitalisation and automation while investing in innovation and workforce development. Together, we can build a resilient ecosystem where MNCs and local companies innovate and grow together,” he added.
Earlier, Mi Technovation Berhad Group chief executive officer Oh Kuang Eng said the company’s growth strategy centres on investing in local talent and advanced technologies.
“Our growth strategy is to invest heavily in people, especially local talent, because that is the key to building our company. We are also investing millions in new technologies and manufacturing processes to expand our operations here in Penang,” he said.
Oh said the company aims to ensure future expansion continues to be driven by Malaysians.
“Most of our management team are Malaysians because we grew from here and developed our base here. Even when we expand, we want Malaysians to continue leading our operations,” he said.
On artificial intelligence, Oh said AI has become an integral part of Mi Equipment’s products.
“Our new flagship machines are all AI-infused, and about 20 to 30 per cent of our revenue today is AI-related,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mi Equipment chief executive officer Teo Chee Keong said the company has evolved significantly since its establishment in 2007, becoming a Bursa Malaysia-listed company within a decade before embarking on a diversification strategy.
“Besides strengthening our core business, we ventured into smart binning for high-performance computing, bonding technology, AI applications and advanced die-level testing. We also developed our one-of-a-kind AI-enabled die sorter, reinforcing our leadership in the field,” he said.
Today, Mi Equipment operates manufacturing facilities in Penang and Suzhou, China, supported by seven overseas sales and service offices, an R&D centre in Singapore, more than 330 employees, over 90 customers and more than 1,300 machine installations worldwide.
“Our backbone is technology. We have more than 110 granted intellectual property rights, and we will continue investing in advanced packaging R&D, expanding our manufacturing capabilities in Penang, creating more high-value jobs and developing local talent through collaborations with universities,” Teo said.
He added that the company is also committed to environmental sustainability through decarbonisation efforts, solar energy adoption and greenhouse gas protocol certification, in line with Penang’s aspiration to become a global hub for advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
Also present was InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Seri Loo Lee Lian.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Muhammad Iqbal Hamdan
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat