By Dr Saat Shukri Embong, President and Group Executive Officer, MIMOS Berhad
Prologue: The Spark of Sovereignty (Early 1980s)
In the bustling factories of 1980s Malaysia, a paradox echoed:
Workers assembled world-class electronics, yet the minds behind those designs belonged to others.
This truth struck Dr. Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen and his fellow academics like lightning. They saw a nation rich in technical skill but starved of technological sovereignty.
Their dream? An institution where Malaysian minds would design Malaysia’s future.
From this fire in the heart, MIMOS was born, not just as a lab, but as a declaration of independence for the nation’s intellect. It was a bold promise that Malaysia would no longer consume technology, but would create it, own it, and lead with it.
Chapter 1: The Unlikely Pioneers (1985–1994)
In May 1985, five senior officials began operating out of a modest bungalow on Jalan Kolam Air, Kuala Lumpur. Their mission seemed audacious: to build a microelectronics ecosystem from scratch.
Within two years, they ignited a digital revolution:
RangKom (Rangkaian Komputer Malaysia), Malaysia’s first computer network, laid the foundation for the nation’s internet.
In 1989, they partnered with the Ministry of Education to create COMIL, Malaysia’s first educational authoring tool in Bahasa Malaysia, empowering teachers to shape young minds with homegrown technology.
This was more than innovation; it was an act of cultural preservation and empowerment, proving that Malaysian ingenuity could shape the national narrative.
Chapter 2: Architecting a Digital Nation (1995–2010)
As Malaysia raced toward modernity, MIMOS became its digital architect.
In 1994, their engineers etched history with Pesona, Malaysia’s first 16-bit RISC microprocessor.
They launched JARING, the nation’s first commercial ISP, and in 1999 deployed SuperJARING, the world’s first fully IP-based 2.5Gbps backbone.
They championed digital justice with Titian Digital, bringing connectivity to rural Kampung Pamah Kulat.
In 1997, MyCERT was launched, becoming a shield for the nation’s dreams in cyberspace.
MIMOS was no longer just building systems; it was building the digital backbone of Malaysia.
Chapter 3: The Crucible of Transformation (2003–Present)
Every great journey demands reinvention.
In 2003, MIMOS pivoted from commercial operations to focus purely on applied R&D for national impact, returning to its radical core.
This era gave birth to:
- Semiconductor Sovereignty: Wafer fabs (Fab 1 & Fab 2) producing advanced sensors and chips like the 0.35-micron EEPROM.
- Guardians of Society: AI-powered Smart Lockups, the Malaysian Health Data Warehouse, and life-saving National Flood Forecasting Systems.
- Sustainability Tech: IoT monitoring for peatlands and precision agriculture boosting Shiitake mushroom yields by 85% in Sabah.
- Blockchain for All: The 2025 Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure (MBI) turning digital identity into a right, not a privilege.
The MIMOS Spirit: Our People, Our Culture
Behind more than 2,000 patents and global accolades lies a tribe united by values:
- Nation First: Every invention strengthens Malaysia’s resilience and dignity.
- Fearless Innovation: We embrace the unknown because the nation cannot afford to play small.
- Shared Prosperity: Technology must be inclusive, uplifting every Malaysian.
From floods to pandemics, from rural schools to global supply chains, MIMOSians work with a conviction that their code, chip, or sensor is not just a product, it is a promise to the rakyat.
The Now: Leading into Malaysia’s Next Chapter
As Malaysia stands at the gateway of RMK13 and the Malaysia MADANI vision, the stakes have never been higher.
The global race for AI leadership, semiconductor dominance, and digital sovereignty is unforgiving, and MIMOS is not here to spectate.
We are here to lead.
We are investing in:
- National AI platforms powering industries and public services.
- Next-generation semiconductor capabilities to secure Malaysia’s place in the trillion-dollar market.
- Sustainable and green technologies to protect our future.
- Global partnerships that position Malaysia as a technology shaper, not follower.
The Unfinished Symphony, Malaysia’s Tech Destiny
Forty years ago, in a humble bungalow, five rebels dared to ask:
“Why can’t Malaysians dream in silicon?”
Today, MIMOS answers:
“We not only can, we must.”
We see a Malaysia that owns its technological destiny, exports innovations, retains its brightest minds, and competes confidently in a borderless world.
- We are not just engineers.
- We are guardians of Malaysia’s future.
- We are the heartbeat of a nation determined to rise.
Our Promise
To Malaysia and Malaysians:
- We will think boldly.
- We will act decisively.
- We will innovate relentlessly.
Because the future will not wait, and neither will we.
MIMOS, Innovating Today for Malaysia’s Tomorrow.
[www.mimos.my | #MIMOS40Years]
