Intel Malaysia Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence in Innovation

GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia Mar. 9, 2012 – Intel Malaysia kicked off its 40th anniversary celebrations today by announcing that it has produced more than 4 billion microchips from Malaysia. The event, which was officiated by Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry, also included the launch of the “1K: I’m In” campaign under the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) pillar.

Speaking at the launch event, Robin Martin, Vice President of Intel Corporation’s Technology Manufacturing Group said, “Intel Malaysia has certainly come a very long way from its early days as an assembly plant standing in the middle of a muddy paddy field.”Robin Martin, Vice President of Intel Corporation’s Technology Manufacturing Group, giving his speech at Intel Malaysia’s 40th anniversary launch event.

Since its establishment here in 1972, Intel Corporation has invested more than US$4 billion in the country and employs over 9,000 Malaysians today. Intel Malaysia is the first and largest offshore site for Intel Corporation and has since developed into the most complex offshore site over the last 40 years.

Today, Intel Malaysia runs its operations with key competencies that support Intel Corporation’s various platform challenges. This includes its role as one of Intel Corporation’s largest Assembly, Test and Manufacturing (ATM) facilities contributing significantly to Intel Corporation’s high volume manufacturing.
Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry, commending Intel Malaysia for its successes since its establishment in 1972.

In addition, Intel Malaysia has built strong credentials in design and development with two design centers in Malaysia under the Intel Architecture Group: a Chip Design Center in Penang and a Board Design Center in Kulim. Furthermore, Intel Malaysia plays a strategic role as the regional and global centre for shared services in IT, Finance and Human Resources.

“In line with our firm belief that knowledge and innovation are the new currencies of the 21st century, our continuous commitment on helping build an innovation-based economy in Malaysia has been absolute from day one,” said Martin. “The production of more than 4 billion microchips from our facilities here in Malaysia is a fitting testament to this commitment.”

Presentation of memento to Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed, MITI. Embedded in the memento is Intel’s latest microprocessor, representing the production of more than 4 billion chips by Intel Malaysia.

Present to officiate the momentous event was Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry. In offering his congratulations to Intel Malaysia, the Minister said, “In making Malaysia one of its largest home bases in the world for over four decades, Intel Corporation has demonstrated its commitment to the country by establishing its operations in Penang and Kulim as strategic technology innovation centres, focused on transforming Malaysia’s economy.”

Intel Malaysia’s operations are currently conducted out of a high-tech campus with more than 10 buildings in Penang island as well as in Kulim, Kedah.

Mustapa further expressed his confidence in Intel Corporation’s commitment to play a significant role in helping Malaysia maintain her competitiveness in the manufacturing, innovation and services sector.

“Intel Malaysia is already accelerating the shift towards higher value-added products with high technology and capital-intensive activities. This is in line with the government’s vision to create a knowledge-based economy through the transformation and innovation of the manufacturing sector in Malaysia,” he said.

In conjunction with the 40th year anniversary celebrations, Intel Malaysia also announced the “1K: I’m In” campaign, a community initiative under the Intel Involved Matching Grant Program (IIMGP) which motivates the employees to engage and improve the conditions of the community. Through this campaign, departments across Intel Malaysia are encouraged to volunteer a minimum of 1,000 hours to each school that it adopts. Volunteer activities include skills-based initiatives like teaching math and science, basic computing skills and entreprenuership.