Kuala Lampur, March 7 -- Malaysia stands at a defining crossroads in its technological journey. For decades, we have been a trusted hub for global semiconductor giants, with exports surpassing RM500 billion annually. Yet, despite this remarkable achievement, our sector's contribution to GDP remains disproportionately low, at less than 7 per cent. This paradox highlights an uncomfortable truth - we are critical to the global supply chain but are not in control of our own destiny.

The Malaysian semiconductor industry is highly skilled and deeply embedded in advanced manufacturing, but we are not truly part of the global semiconductor ecosystem. We serve as an assembly and production hub for multinational corporations (MNCs), but our local ...