Premier: Sarawak to produce heat-free light-splitting semiconductor chip

Abang Johari arriving at the Tanjong Lobang College Alumni Association Charity Dinner in Kuching on July 11, 2026. Source: Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas)

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 12: Sarawak is set to produce a semiconductor chip capable of splitting light without generating heat, marking another milestone in the State’s push to advance its semiconductor industry, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“Soon, we will have a chip that can split light. I have asked Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan to study it. I have already seen it. Light consists of many components.

“When it is split, it emits light but does not generate heat. Hopefully, Sarawak will produce it,”* he said when speaking at the Tanjong Lobang College Alumni Association Charity Dinner here on Saturday (July 11), as reported by TVS.

Abang Johari, who is also Sarawak’s Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, said the State is now spearheading the development of a new gallium nitride-based chip, which he described as superior to silicon, with the chip designed by local Sarawakian talent.

He said the chip has the potential to become a world-class semiconductor product developed entirely by Sarawakians.

“Sarawak has begun designing a new chip using gallium nitride, which is better than silicon, and we have Sarawakian talent capable of designing it. The same goes for storage disks. The world’s first storage disk using a glass substrate instead of silicon will be produced by Sarawak. Glass substrates will represent the future of the semiconductor industry,” he said.

He added that the achievement demonstrates Sarawak’s ability to continue advancing in the new economy while earning international recognition.

According to him, these developments have also attracted the attention of the international community, with many foreign ambassadors visiting Sarawak to explore collaboration and investment opportunities in the State’s emerging new economy. — DayakDaily