Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corp CEO Yong Kai Ping: Malaysia and Southeast Asia are lacking talent [in IC design] compared to China, Taiwan and [South] Korea. So, must offer salaries that match those in Singapore, otherwise, our top talent will [leave] for our neighbours, or even [for] Vietnam. (Photo by Low Yen Yeing/The Edge)

PUCHONG (Aug 6): Selangor’s newly-opened integrated circuit (IC) design park in Puchong is offering fresh engineering graduates salaries matching those in its neighbours Singapore and Vietnam, according to the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corp (Sidec) chief executive officer Yong Kai Ping.

The state is offering undergraduate engineers salaries ranging from RM5,000 to RM6,000, while master's degree holders can expect to earn RM7,000, as it aims to secure the best talents for the local semiconductor industry.

“Malaysia and Southeast Asia are lacking talent [in the IC design] compared to China, Taiwan and Korea. So, we must offer salaries that match those in Singapore, otherwise, our top talent will [leave] for our neighbours or even to Vietnam,” Yong spoke to The Edge after attending the groundbreaking opening of IC design park in Puchong Financial Corp Centre (PFCC) on Tuesday.

Puchong IC design park, which is set to house over 400 engineers, has so far received 3,300 resumes spanning from junior to senior-level engineers. It is actively recruiting skilled candidates with degrees in electrical and electronics (E&E) engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, and computer sciences.

At the same time, Sidec is also assisting Malaysian and international IC companies in recruiting experienced engineers with four to eight years of experience.

“These engineers will play a pivotal role in leading the expansion of these companies within the Selangor IC design park,” Yong said.

The IC design park in Puchong currently comprise global semiconductor tenants including Maistorage, Skyechip, Weeroc, AppAsia ChipsBank, SensoremTek Sdn Bhd, with several ecosystem partners such as BlueChip VC, ARM Holdings, Cadence Design System, Synopsys, Siemens EDA and Keysight and Shenzhen Semiconductor Association.