MITI Deputy Minister YB Liew Chin Tong emphasised that as global supply chains realign, Malaysian semiconductor players must pivot towards ASEAN markets, unlocking regional opportunities and reducing overreliance on traditional Western demand.
Addressing delegates on the second day of the Kuala Lumpur Engineering Forum (KLEF), an integral learning component of the ENGINEER & MARVEX 2025 convention, Liew said this is an opportune time to “think ASEAN” as the world is shifting away from being one single supply chain.
“Today, most companies are looking at the supply chain in regional terms, and accepting that it’s underpinned by geopolitical difficulties,” he said.
In terms of sustainability initiatives, he stressed the region’s capabilities.
“The ASEAN power grid is one of the biggest initiatives of our time, but standards and innovation are key to pulling it off. We also need to address funding, and find new ways of seeking funding for this power grid. I believe Malaysia can play an important role in that.”
KLEF is part of concurrent forums, jointly organised by IEM and C.I.S aimed at sparking innovation, and tackling engineering’s challenges, besides providing opportunities for networking, learning, and shaping the future of engineering.