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Oppstar's IPO was a big hit -- it was oversubscribed by 77 times -- but the frenzy also showed how far Malaysia has to go to return to its former tech glory.   © Oppstar
Business Spotlight

Malaysian 'Silicon Valley' seeds homegrown chip startups

Former Intel engineers attempt to push Penang to higher end of value chain

TSUBASA SURUGA, Nikkei staff writer | Malaysia

PENANG, Malaysia -- When chip design company Oppstar listed on the Malaysian stock exchange last year, it was a watershed moment for the Southeast Asian country and its ambitions to revitalize its semiconductor industry.

Amid globally weak public listing activity, investors flocked to the initial public offering, the first by a chip design house on the local bourse. It was oversubscribed by 77 times, pushing its stock price up 286% on its first trading day.

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