PM Anwar Opens MKS Inc’s RM400mil Super Center Factory in Batu Kawan

US semiconductor equipment maker MKS Inc has opened its Super Center Factory at Bandar Cassia Technology Park in Batu Kawan, Penang — the company’s largest manufacturing investment since it was founded in 1961. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the grand opening on Saturday, 20 June 2026.

A 17-acre, 350,000 sq ft commitment

Built on a 17-acre site with about 350,000 sq ft of built-up space, the facility supports growing global demand for wafer fabrication equipment. MKS technologies currently support more than 85% of the world’s wafer fabrication equipment applications and over 70% of key processes in package substrate and printed circuit board manufacturing.

The project, developed in multiple phases, has completed its first phase; the investment already exceeds RM400mil (roughly US$94–100mil), and more than 1,000 high-value jobs are expected once all phases are complete. MKS first announced the project in October 2024 as a planned US$100mil investment — the completed first phase now represents a considerably larger commitment.

Anwar flew in straight from Turkmenistan

Anwar arrived in Penang at 3.30am that day, flying in directly from a two-day state visit to Turkmenistan at the invitation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedow — during which Malaysia and Turkmenistan signed an agreement entrusting one of the world’s largest gas reserves to Malaysia and Petronas for management. He called the MKS opening further evidence of international confidence in Malaysia, crediting clear policy, efficient administration and reduced bureaucracy, and urged MKS and other investors to keep giving feedback to accelerate future approvals.

Chow: Penang’s Q1 numbers, and what comes next

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow used the event to lay out Penang’s broader momentum: the state secured RM4.9bil in approved manufacturing investments in the first quarter of 2026, with foreign direct investment making up 70% of that total. The electrical and electronics (E&E) and machinery sectors alone contributed RM3.6bil, or 74% of approved investments. Penang remained Malaysia’s top exporting state in 2025, contributing 38.1% of national exports — about RM610bil — driven largely by integrated circuits and other E&E products.

He pointed to two initiatives as evidence of where the state is heading next: the Penang Silicon Design @5KM+ ecosystem, a Bayan Lepas-based IC design cluster backed by an RM50mil matching grant that has already produced firms such as Silicon X and SkyeChip (SkyeChip has since listed on Bursa Malaysia’s Main Market to a strong debut); and the newly launched Penang ATE Campus, backed by a 10-acre land allocation from the Penang Development Corporation, aimed at strengthening automated test equipment capabilities. Chow said Malaysia’s rise to 15th place in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking reflects the same fundamentals — efficient governance, a pro-business environment, talent development and digital adoption under the Penang2030 vision.

Why MKS chose Penang

MKS president and CEO John T.C. Lee said the company’s decision came down to Penang’s vibrant semiconductor ecosystem, strategic proximity to customers and suppliers, robust infrastructure and skilled talent base. "This new facility brings us closer to our customers and partners, enhancing our ability to deliver advanced semiconductor manufacturing solutions while contributing to progress across the global value chain," he said.

MIDA chief executive Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said the machinery and equipment industry recorded RM3.5bil (US$824mil) in approved investments in the first quarter of 2026, and framed the MKS project as deepening domestic supply chain capabilities and industry-academia collaboration. InvestPenang CEO Datuk Loo Lee Lian called it a milestone in Penang’s evolution as an advanced manufacturing and semiconductor hub.

What it means for Batu Kawan industrial land

• The corridor keeps landing its biggest names yet. MKS’s largest manufacturing investment in over 60 years choosing Batu Kawan — in the same months as THMY’s RM172.6mil factory upsize and PDC taking direct control of BKIP2 — confirms Bandar Cassia Technology Park as a genuine anchor location, not just an overflow zone for Penang island.

• 1,000+ jobs is a real demand signal. A facility of this scale, once fully staffed, pulls housing, retail and services demand into the surrounding area — relevant context for anyone tracking residential and commercial land around Batu Kawan, not just industrial plots.

• The state is now selling a system, not just land. Chow’s pitch bundled the MKS opening with the Silicon Design ecosystem and the new ATE Campus — Penang is positioning itself on ecosystem depth (design, equipment, testing, packaging) rather than land price alone, which is worth knowing when benchmarking Penang against cheaper alternatives like Perak or Kedah.