KUALA LUMPUR (March 13): The Penang state government has formed a steering committee made up of major players in the local semiconductor industry such as Greatech Technology Bhd (KL:GREATEC) and Pentamaster Corporation Bhd (KL:PENTA) to oversee the Penang Automation, Test and Equipment (ATE) Campus set up to strengthen the state’s ecosystem in the segment. 

The committee chaired by InvestPenang CEO Datuk Loo Lee Lian, is focused especially on advanced packaging, integrated device manufacturer, electronics manufacturing services, medical technology, and semiconductor equipment manufacturing. 

The announcement follows months of intensive industry engagement sessions that began in late 2025, according to a statement on Friday. This initiative represents a high-level collaboration between the government, academia and the private sector, designed to modernise and scale Penang’s ATE sector.

The ATE Campus will be supported by four pillars, each led by a committee member to drive implementation and sustain long-term impact. 

The first pillar will be led by CEO and executive director of TT Vision Holdings Bhd (KL:TTVHB), Goon Koon Yin, focusing on branding and policy recommendations, which includes the development of an industry framework and localisation policy proposal for the government

The second pillar, jointly led by the CEO and executive director of Greatech Technology Datuk Seri Tan Eng Kee and executive chairman of Pentamaster Corp, Datuk Chuah Choon Bin will be focusing on localisation pathways, aiming at facilitating collaboration between multinational corporations (MNCs) and local ATE companies through structured engagement platforms such as industry workshops, capability mapping and business matching.

The third pillar led by the CEO and executive director of Aemulus Holdings Bhd (KL:AEMULUS) Ng Sang Beng and the CEO of PSDC, Dr Hari Narayanan, will explore the establishment of shared laboratory facilities to support collaboration, co-development and training.

The final pillar led by the biggest cohort of leaders with the likes of managing director of Walta Engineering Sdn Bhd, Goh Kheng Sneah; CEO of Sophic Automation Sdn Bhd, Koh Dim Kuan; and CEO of PSDC, Dr Hari Narayanan; centring on training and skills development through structured training, reskilling and upskilling programmes to support ATE.