Malaysia may not be first name that springs to mind when thinking of the global tech industry, but it may be one day, thanks to artificial intelligence. Before the latest AI movement, the country, through tax benefits and initiatives like Malaysia Digital, promoted the growth of local startups. At that time, companies like Grab and Carsome managed to grow significantly. Meanwhile, global players, including Microsoft and Google, established a foothold in the country after seeing its potential.
With the newfound focus on AI, Malaysia is now shifting its priorities to work with international organizations to establish regional data centers that will be essential for training large language models and generative platforms. With these partnerships, a significant amount of investment dollars from tech companies’ venture capital have also found their way to Malaysia.
We’ve put together a list of the top tech companies in Malaysia to watch.
Top Tech Companies in Malaysia
- Microsoft
- MoneyLion
- Motorola Solutions
- Umai
- Grab
- Axiata Group
Top Tech Companies in Malaysia
Panasonic is a global corporation that develops consumer electronics, semiconductors and automotive components. Some of its consumer products include TVs and home appliances. On the automotive side, the company has been a major supplier of electric vehicle batteries for Tesla.
IFlix is a free video streaming platform headquartered in Kuala Lampur. It targets emerging markets and provides regional and local films and TV shows. According to iFlix, its streaming platform has over 25 million active users and partnerships with over 150 studios.
Google is one of the most recognizable tech companies in the world, and it operates an office in Kuala Lumpur. Google Search is one of its most popular products, but others include Drive, a collaboration and cloud storage platform and Gemini, a generative AI engine with text and image capabilities. According to Google, its Malaysia facility focuses on cloud services and recently announced a multi-billion dollar investment to establish a data center in the country.
Microsoft is a legacy technology company founded in the 1970s, but it has become a tech giant through innovative software products. The company develops operating systems and enterprise software while providing cloud services through its Azure brand. With Azure, Microsoft helps thousands of clients build new software and AI products.
Inari Amertron is a top semiconductor manufacturer with over 11 facilities throughout Malaysia, China and the Philippines. The company provides niche services to build radio frequency, system-in-packer and fiber-optic chips. Its services include wafer probing, processing and assembly. According to Inari Amertron, its products end up in smartphones and data servers.
LottieFiles is a free platform popular among web designers. The site hosts hundreds of thousands of customizable animations that can be used for web development and design software, including Canva, Figma and After Effects. Additionally, LottieFlies has a generative AI platform that can create custom animations based on text prompts.
BigPay is a fintech app that helps users manage their finances. The platform enables users to transfer money into a separate account and, when used with the provided debit card, can track spending across multiple categories. BigPay’s other major features are a bill split and peer-to-peer transfer platform.
Wise provides fintech and global payment services to individuals and businesses in various countries. The platform functions as a remittance platform for individual users to transfer money in over 40 currencies and includes features such as an FDIC-insured interest-yielding account. Meanwhile, businesses can use Wise to pay international employees and process cross-border payments.
Razer is a popular gaming brand that designs and manufactures high-performance hardware. Its products include gaming computers, wireless headsets and low-latency mice, which aim to give players a competitive edge in games. Recently, Razor has also ventured into digital tech through its Gold service, which enables gamers to purchase games and earn rewards for future purchases.
Axiata Group is a large telecommunications provider headquartered in Malaysia. Through its various brands, the company operates in nine Southeast Asian countries and provides cloud computing, mobile network services and home internet services.
Motorola Solutions builds hardware and software technologies that aim to keep people safe. Its products, which are used by law enforcement and other emergency services, include video security systems, drone software and two-way radios. Motorola Solutions also develops command center platforms that help coordinate emergency services like paramedics and police.
Fave is a fintech and marketing platform changing how businesses and customers interact. The app functions as a mobile payment platform where users can connect their bank accounts or credit cards and use them to pay at various retail locations. Additionally, businesses can advertise on Fave to offer users steep discounts for things like food, entertainment and services.
MoneyLion is a popular fintech platform with offices in New York and Kuala Lumpur. Through its website and mobile app, users can borrow money through personal loans, cash advances or by applying for credit cards from its personalized recommendation list. Additionally, MoneyLion can help individuals earn more money by recommending interest-earning bank accounts or different investment products.
Petronas is an established energy company that supplies cloud and digital solutions through its tech arm. It works with other energy companies and provides operational and information technologies, such as warehouse automation systems and work management software. Petronas also helps clients establish network infrastructure for wireless connectivity.
Carsome, one of Malaysia’s largest e-commerce platforms, specializes in selling used automobiles. To facilitate the buying process, Carsome digitizes several elements, including vehicle history and financing, before care buyers book a free test drive with intent to purchase.
Xendit is a fintech company that provides payment infrastructure throughout Southeast Asia. Its solutions have helped SMEs and e-commerce businesses simplify cross-border payments, subscription processing, in-person payments and much more. According to Xendit, it works with over 10,000 companies and helps move billions annually.
Umai develops cloud-based restaurant software that helps businesses operate more efficiently. Its platform provides reservations, payments, online ordering and analytics solutions. According to Umai, its analytics dashboard can help restaurants track no-show trends to reduce lost revenue.
Grab is a multinational tech company with offices in Malaysia. The company calls its product the everyday everything app and provides food delivery services, ride-hailing, life insurance and hotel booking, among other services. Additionally, individuals can join the platform to become drivers and couriers and earn extra income.
Huawei develops consumer goods products, including mobile phones, laptops and semiconductors. Although headquartered in China, the company has contributed to Malaysia’s tech industry by deploying 3G, 4G and 5G services since opening an office in 2001.
Socar operates a car rental platform that uses tech to facilitate the process. Through the site, users can find and book transportation in various cities for round-trip or one-way travel. Additionally, Socar eliminates the need for physical car keys, instead opting for keyless Bluetooth options to unlock and operate its vehicles.
