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Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
OTSM, Invest Sarawak ink MoA to drive semiconductor ecosystem, tech hub vision
KUCHING (Aug 8): OCI Tokuyama Semiconductor Materials Sdn Bhd (OTSM) and Invest Sarawak have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) today to boost Sarawak's ambition of becoming a leading regional technology hub. The partnership seeks to develop supply chains, forge strategic collaborations, and build industrial ecosystems to support OTSM's upcoming high-purity semiconductor-grade polysilicon plant. OTSM chief executive officer Steve Choi said the collaboration would create opportunities for Sarawak businesses and talent while enabling local suppliers to participate in the global semiconductor value chain. 'This will strengthen Sarawak's position as a competitive hub in the global semiconductor industry and drive long-term economic prosperity,' he said in a statement. He added that the initiative was expected to attract significant high-value investments and spur the growth of advanced manufacturing. The MoA was signed by Choi and Invest Sarawak chief executive officer Timothy Ong, witnessed by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at the World Expo in Osaka. Last month, OTSM – a 50:50 joint venture between OCI TerraSus and Japan's Tokuyama Corporation – broke ground on its RM2 billion semiconductor-grade polysilicon plant at Samalaju Industrial Park, Bintulu. Occupying 13.7 hectares, the facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2029, with an annual production capacity of 8,000 metric tonnes, supplying major technology markets in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. This marks OCI's third major investment in Sarawak, following its 2017 acquisition of Tokuyama Malaysia's solar-grade polysilicon plant, now operating as OCI TerraSus, which produces 35,000 metric tonnes annually. The second investment is a joint venture with Kumho P&B Chemicals to produce epichlorohydrin – a chemical used in epoxy and rubber production – slated to be commenced by year-end.
Borneo Post
14-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
OTSM's new polysilicon plant in Sarawak to set global standards
Choi says Sarawak was chosen for the investment because of its strategic location, political stability and focus on renewable energy. KUCHING (July 12, 2025): Sarawak is set to make Malaysia the fifth country in the world to produce semiconductor-grade polysilicon with the launch of a new plant under OCI Tokuyama Semiconductor Materials Sdn Bhd (OTSM). The RM2 billion facility is a 50:50 joint venture between Japan's Tokuyama Corporation and South Korea's OCI TerraSus. It will be built on a 13.7-hectare site at Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu, next to OCI TerraSus' existing solar-grade polysilicon plant. OTSM chief executive officer Steve Choi said the new plant will position Malaysia alongside the US, Germany, China and Taiwan in producing this high-purity material. 'This is quite a meaningful investment. With this investment, we will create about 200 high-quality jobs and upskilling opportunities for Sarawakians,' he told The Borneo Post. According to Choi, the plant will have an annual production capacity of 8,000 metric tonnes of semiconductor-grade polysilicon and is expected to be mechanically completed by the first quarter of 2027. Full commercial operations are targeted to begin in January 2029, he said. 'From the beginning of 2029, we are targeting January for full production. The products will be distributed to Japan, Korea and Taiwan,' he said. He also revealed that a groundbreaking ceremony for OTSM is scheduled to be held on July 16 attended by representatives from the Sarawak government. For information, the difference between solar-grade and semiconductor-grade polysilicon lies in its level of purity. Solar-grade polysilicon typically reaches a purity level of 99.999999 per cent, commonly referred to as 9N (nine nines). It is the key material used in the production of solar cells, which are the fundamental components of solar panels. On the other hand, semiconductor-grade polysilicon must reach 11N purity, or 99.999999999 per cent. It is primarily used to manufacture silicon wafers, which are the foundational material for integrated circuits (ICs) and other microelectronic components found in a wide range of electronic devices such as computers and smartphones. 'This level of purity is much harder to achieve. Each additional nine in the purity level means the material is ten times more refined. So to go from 9N to 11N, the purification process becomes significantly more demanding,' Choi explained. On global demand for semiconductor-grade polysilicon, Choi noted that it currently stands at only 50,000 metric tonnes annually. This means OTSM's output will account for close to one-sixth of global supply, making it a key player in the semiconductor industry. Spotlight for Sarawak Photo shows OCI TerraSus' existing production plant. The new plant will have an annual production capacity of 8,000 metric tonnes of semiconductor-grade polysilicon and is expected to be mechanically completed by the first quarter of 2027, while full commercial operations are targeted to begin in January 2029. Choi said Sarawak was chosen for the investment because of its strategic location, political stability and focus on renewable energy. 'Since we (OCI Holdings) acquired Tokuyama Malaysia in 2017, we have experienced Sarawak to be politically stable. The state also uses a large share of green energy, such as hydro-generated power,' he said. He said the joint venture brings high-end capabilities and credibility from both Japan and South Korea, helping Sarawak grow its industrial platform and technology base. Furthermore, Sarawak's position in Southeast Asia offers proximity to major tech markets such as Korea, Japan and Taiwan. He said this is important as the world moves away from reliance on China in the semiconductor value chain. 'This is meaningful at a time of US-China decoupling. We can diversify and strengthen Southeast Asia's position in the high-purity polysilicon sector,' he said. In line with its commitment to develop local talent, he said about 90 per cent of the company's workforce is Sarawakian. It is also collaborating with universities and vocational colleges to secure young talents and develop their skills. 'We trained them and gave them exposure to the complex chemical manufacturing industry. Through this joint venture, we will deliver even higher standards of skills to the 200 new employees we plan to hire,' he said. OTSM's operations will also contribute to climate goals, as its products support clean energy technologies and digital innovation. Choi said the venture is powered by 70 per cent renewable hydropower through a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB). 'This ensures a stable and sustainable power supply from the state. This is on top of Sarawak's already competitive energy pricing,' he said. Not much global competition yet When asked whether China poses a strong threat in this market, Choi said Chinese companies are trying to break into the semiconductor-grade segment but have yet to succeed. 'Currently, China's polysilicon companies are trying to move into the semiconductor-grade space. But so far, they haven't been successful. 'In the global market, particularly in the US, they are trying to differentiate Chinese and non-Chinese sources. This is where OTSM holds a strategic advantage,' he said. Choi said Malaysia especially Sarawak stands to benefit from this shift and it poses a great opportunity for Sarawak to attract investment, as companies look to relocate away from China. He noted that while Southeast Asia has seen the emergence of many solar value chain companies, the US has imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on some products from the region, including Malaysia. He stressed that OTSM is not affected by these issues. 'We are a 50-50 joint venture between Korea and Japan. We have no Chinese ownership. Therefore. we are largely insulated from such future issues,' he said. Choi added that many investors are now looking to Southeast Asia for new projects due to the difficulty of accessing the US market from China. 'Malaysia, and especially Sarawak, is in a strong position to take advantage of this realignment,' he said.
Korea Herald
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'We must reconsider who the real underdogs in this industry are'
K-pop industry groups condemn tampering, call for policy support amid NewJeans controversy The ongoing contract dispute involving NewJeans — who have rebranded themselves as NJZ — has sparked a heated debate within the K-pop industry, raising concerns over the stability of artist-agency relationships. On Thursday, five major music organizations in South Korea — Korea Management Federation, Korea Entertainment Producers Association, Record Label Industry Association of Korea, Recording Industry Association of Korea and Korea Music Content Association — held a joint press conference, emphasizing the need to curb tampering, or the unauthorized interference in existing contracts. The conference follows a statement from the same organizations strongly condemning tampering released on Feb. 19. On Thursday, the groups urged an end to reckless public opinion battles and called on the government and the National Assembly for policy support. Arguing that exclusive contracts between agencies and artists are the backbone of the entertainment industry, the organizations strongly demanded the eradication of tampering. Steve Choi, Secretary-General of the Korea Music Content Association, likened the tampering issue to an epidemic, spreading from major to small agencies. "Agencies are no longer in a superior position. The relationship between an agency and an artist is not that of an employer and an employee, but a partnership," he asserted. Regarding NewJeans members' press conference last November, in which they announced their unilateral contract termination with Ador, claiming they could do so without taking legal steps, Choi responded cautiously: "In any industry, disputes must be settled through judicial decisions. No one can unilaterally declare a contract cancellation before a court ruling." He further emphasized that the current artist-friendly standard contract, which has been in place for over a decade, needs to be updated to align with the industry's evolving landscape. Korea Entertainment Producers Association Director Kim Myung-soo proposed a legal framework to combat tampering. "Even if a contract dispute leads to a breakdown in the relationship, engaging in unilateral activities during the remaining contract period should be prohibited, rendering tampering meaningless." 'Burden of K-pop agency should be considered as well' Industry representatives also claimed that agencies' voices are often overshadowed by the popularity of artists, leading to biased narratives. They agreed that concrete measures must be implemented to prevent tampering, given the significant costs and risks producers bear to debut new artists. "When someone with a significant influence and a strong fandom makes claims, they are often accepted as truths, even before a legal verdict. We must ask ourselves whether we have truly listened to both sides," Steve Choi said, referencing allegations of workplace bullying involving NewJeans' Hanni. At the end of last year, Hanni alleged that she overheard another artist's manager saying 'ignore her' inside Hybe headquarters, which she claimed constituted workplace bullying. She was later called as a witness in a National Assembly audit on workplace harassment. Choi Jae-woo, CEO of F&F Entertainment — a mid-sized agency representing the girl group Unis — highlighted the significant investment required to debut an idol group. "We invest throughout the casting and training, provide accommodations and meals to trainees, and even resolve medical insurance, visa issues for foreign national trainees. The industry demands at least tens of billions of won, sometimes up to 10 billion won ($7.5 million), in predebut investments." Speakers also raised concerns about agency employees facing excessive attacks from fan communities. "Some fans go as far as to demand the dismissal of agency staff or even launching cyberbullying against their families. If we are to examine workplace harassment faced by artists, we must also acknowledge the harassment that agency employees endure from extreme fans," Steve Choi stated. Choi also addressed a statement released earlier that morning by NewJeans' fan community, Bunnies, which criticized the five organizations for allegedly siding with Hybe and Ador. Bunnies argued that the NewJeans contract dispute stemmed from the company's contractual violations rather than tampering. In response, Choi stressed that the press conference was not about NewJeans or Ador specifically but about establishing fundamental industry principles. "Fans may find today's discussion uncomfortable, but our aim is to create a constructive dialogue for the industry's future."
