By Isabelle LEONG
Putrajaya, Malaysia (AFP) Mar 4, 2026
Malaysia’s anti-corruption company mentioned Wednesday it was probing alleged abuse of energy, fraud and governance points linked to a 1.11 billion ringgit ($280 million) deal between the Malaysian authorities and British chip big Arm Holdings.
The Southeast Asian nation, which is likely one of the world’s high chip exporters, signed an settlement with the agency final March to spice up manufacturing of high-end semiconducters, because the US-China tech commerce struggle shook world markets.
“We’ve got summoned a complete of 12 witnesses so removed from numerous authorities companies, particularly from the economic system ministry, Malaysia’s funding growth authority and in addition from the commerce ministry and a number of other different companies,” Anti-Corruption Fee (MACC) chief Azam Baki mentioned.
A former minister was a kind of referred to as in to offer a press release, Azam mentioned, refusing to call the person.
Rafizi Ramli was Malaysia’s economic system minister on the time, whereas Tengku Zafrul Aziz held the funding, commerce and trade minister portfolio.
Malaysia is a key participant within the important chips sector however has been largely targeted on packaging, meeting and testing providers — the decrease finish of the market.
The Arm Holdings settlement will see the Softbank-owned agency present chip designs and different know-how to Malaysia, serving to the nation shift into extra value-added manufacturing, akin to wafer fabrication and built-in circuit design.
Malaysia mentioned at the moment it could pay $250 million over a decade to obtain help from the British firm.
“We are going to examine this matter in a good {and professional} method,” Azam mentioned, including that extra witnesses will probably be summoned to help the probe.
Malaysia’s semiconductor exports had been valued at 387.98 billion ringgit ($87.48 billion) in 2024, the Malaysia Exterior Commerce Growth Company mentioned, making the nation one of many world’s high 10 chip exporters.
Malaysia’s northern island of Penang, dwelling to quite a few amenities, is usually dubbed the nation’s Silicon Valley.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim introduced plans in April 2024 to construct an enormous semiconductor design park, an effort to maneuver the nation past chips manufacturing.
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