From a small town in Sekinchan to shaping the way the world stores data, Datuk Pua Khein-Seng is a name every Malaysian should know. Often called the “Father of the Pendrive”, Pua made history over two decades ago when he invented the USB flash drive, a device so small yet powerful enough to transform how we carry and share information.
Today, the man behind one of the world’s most revolutionary tech inventions is officially back and investing in Malaysia’s future.
Launching MaiStorage: A Homecoming with Purpose
Pua recently launched Malaysia AI Storage (MaiStorage), the local arm of his Taiwan-based company, Phison Electronics Corporation, which controls more than 45% of the global USB flash drive market. This move is not only about expanding his business. It is also about cultivating Malaysia’s tech talent and ensuring the nation’s brightest minds can thrive right here at home.
MaiStorage is currently offering:
- RM6,000 starting salary for fresh graduates
- Five-figure salaries for experienced engineers
His goal is to position Malaysia as a regional leader in microchip design and AI-driven data storage.
A Vision Delayed, but Not Forgotten
Pua’s ambition to establish Malaysia as a leader in microchip design goes back decades. In 1999, he attempted to launch the industry locally but faced layers of bureaucracy and an ecosystem not yet ready for such innovation. Determined to see his vision succeed, he brought the idea to Taiwan, where it flourished and became an international success story.
Yet his heart never left home. Over lunch with PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar two years ago, Pua expressed his wish to return and help Malaysia rise as a “digital tiger” in ASEAN.
Now, with RM100 million in investments and RM1 billion worth of technology transfer, he is making that dream a reality with support from Nurul Izzah and the Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC).
Selangor is being shaped into Malaysia’s own Silicon Valley, with MaiStorage expected to play a central role in driving that transformation. The company also plans to list on Bursa Malaysia by 2028.
