KHAZANAH Nasional Bhd is adopting a strategic partnership model to reinforce Malaysia’s semiconductor industry, particularly in advanced and sophisticated packaging, signalling a departure from its earlier practice of developing proprietary projects or companies.
Khazanah Managing Director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir explained that the previous government-linked investment approach of building companies internally is no longer considered relevant.
“Based on our experience, we have found that the best results are achieved when businesses are led by entrepreneurs and the private sector,” he said.
Under the new model, Khazanah provides seed funding while strategic partners contribute additional capital, introduce new investments into Malaysia, or establish local operations.
“We are investing in the Cambrian Fund, in collaboration with the founders of ViTrox Corp, Chengwei Capital, and NRL Capital.
“At the same time, the Impact Fund has invested in Syntiant Corp, a US-based company that has established a research and development centre in Penang,” he said in an exclusive interview with Berita Harian.
Amirul emphasised that Khazanah’s role as a strategic partner allows incoming investments to be coordinated to complement one another, thereby maximising their economic impact.
He also highlighted the opportunity presented by the ‘China Plus One’ strategy, where international companies seek alternatives to China for expanding their operations.
Several seed funds initiated in recent years are showing encouraging progress, with some expected to mature and potentially list on the stock market, he added.
Beyond financial investment, Khazanah is prioritising human capital development to meet the semiconductor sector’s talent requirements.
This effort is being carried out through the K-Youth programme, a youth employability initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of Malaysian talent.
“The programme equips local youth with commercially valuable skills and experience to enhance their employability,” he said.
Since its inception, K-Youth has trained 9,934 youths, including 76 per cent from B40 families and 79 per cent Bumiputera, in collaboration with 18 programme partners.
Since 2023, over 34,000 youths have received training in key growth areas such as digital innovation, technology, semiconductors, and aerospace. - February 17, 2026
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