KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 -- Malaysia is rapidly emerging as a preferred destination for high-value investments, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealing that global semiconductor giant AMS plans to establish advanced packaging and design operations in Penang.

Speaking at the launch of the ECRL operations and maintenance training programme, Anwar said AMS - the world's largest semiconductor company - aims to move beyond traditional backend work and position Malaysia at the forefront of next-generation chip manufacturing.

"This morning, we had a meeting with AMS, the biggest semiconductor company in the world. They want to make Malaysia the spot for advanced packaging and design. Of course, my response was a resounding welcome, a...