Crest Group Bhd managing director Lim Siong Wai says analytical and scientific backgrounds are important for anyone seeking roles in the semiconductor sector. (Photo by Shahrill Basri/The Edge)

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): Crest Group Bhd (KL:CREST), a newly listed imaging firm, is flagging a shortage of qualified talents, and urged the government to invest in developing the pool of higher-skilled workers for the semiconductor industry.

There was a noticeable shortage in terms of skill levels for semiconductor talents, despite the high numbers of graduates, Crest Group managing director Lim Siong Wai told reporters following the company’s debut on the ACE Market on Wednesday.

“I really hope that the government [looks to expand] talents — it is important [for the] semiconductor sector,” said Lim. The talents are crucial for the local semiconductor market that may grow to RM1.2 trillion by 2030, he said, citing the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association’s forecast.

The comment comes ahead of the Budget 2025 presentation next week. Malaysia has long supported the growth of its key electrical-and-electronics sector that hosts some of the world’s industry giants ranging from Intel to Samsung.

The country’s export-oriented factories are also crucial for the country’s economic growth, as electrical and electronics goods account for more than one-third of the country’s total exports.

Analytical and scientific backgrounds are important for anyone seeking roles in the semiconductor sector, Lim stressed, noting that even positions in sales require a deep understanding of technical concepts and products in the semiconductor industry.

“I hope the government can spend money in academia,” he said. “With all the investment coming in, we really need a lot of money to [develop] more science students, to find more research staff, so that we can encourage innovative and highly thinking skilled [talents].”

Crest Group is mainly involved in providing imaging, analytical, and testing for quality inspection, sample analysis, and research and development, serving various sectors including semiconductor, electrical and electronics, and automotive.