{
  "id": 15869052,
  "title": "Johari: Malaysia’s chip talent retention remains sustainable despite foreign offers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/johari-malaysias-chip-talent-retention-remains-sustainable-despite-15869052",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-21T08:36:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/21/johari-malaysias-chip-talent-retention-remains-sustainable-despite-foreign-offers/240046"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Malaysia's chip industry is successfully retaining talent due to a structured career progression, despite overseas companies offering higher salaries, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. During Question Time in Parliament, Johari explained that the starting salaries for junior engineers typically range from RM3,500 to RM6,000, while technicians earn between RM3,000 and RM5,000 depending on their tenure. He acknowledged that these salaries may seem low compared to those offered by companies in countries like Taiwan or South Korea, but pointed out that the cost of living in those countries is also higher. Johari noted that salaries in places such as the UK, Singapore, Korea, or Taiwan are often two to three times higher. However, he stressed that when considering the cost of living in these countries, the difference in salaries diminishes. The Malaysian government, under the Anwar administration, is actively working towards positioning Malaysia as a significant player in the semiconductor industry within the next one or two decades. The government aims to achieve this by progressing the domestic semiconductor ecosystem up the value chain. Southeast Asia's fourth-largest economy by GDP plays a crucial role in the global transistor supply chain, but its current position only extends to back-end testing and assembly. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed a desire to see Malaysia transition into front-end design and wafer fabrication. Johari emphasized that retaining skilled human capital through progressive local wage structures is essential for achieving Malaysia's advanced technology goals. He also pointed out that compensation in Malaysia's industrial sector should be evaluated within the context of the domestic standard of living, as local pay structures could significantly expand for specialized roles as experience grows.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Starting salaries for junior engineers and technicians in the local chip industry scale up...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}