Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association suggested the government allow the use of foreign STEM graduates and global expertise to fill immediate gaps in the industry. (Pixabay pic)PETALING JAYA : The Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) wants targeted tax relief for engineers, especially those in design and development (D&D), smart manufacturing and advanced equipment to be included in the 2026 federal budget. “We need to encourage more students to pursue STEM studies, and to strengthen the talent pipeline by providing tax relief and incentives for parents of students pursuing STEM,” he said. Wong also called for sales and service tax (SST) relief through broader business-to-business exemptions, support for capital-intensive industries, and investment-linked incentives for energy efficiency and automation, Bernama reported. “Budget 2026 is a golden opportunity for Malaysia to move from ‘Made in Malaysia’ to ‘Made by Malaysia’,” he told Bernama.