Pua Khein Seng (Photo credit: Seatoc)
Malaysian-born tech pioneer Datuk Pua Khein Seng, widely recognised as the inventor of the USB flash drive, has formally returned home with a bold new venture. His journey—launched from humble beginnings in Sekinchan to international acclaim in Taiwan with the founding of Phison Electronics Corporation—is now entering its next chapter: transforming Malaysia from a tech consumer to a tech creator.
From USB Pendrive to Global Storage Giant
Pua’s enduring claim to fame is pioneering the first single‑chip USB flash drive, a leap that reshaped global data storage and helped Phison gain control of nearly half of the USB flash market. With Phison headquartered in Taiwan, he has overseen two decades of innovation in NAND‑flash controller ICs and storage solutions.
Strategic Ally in Nurul Izzah Anwar
Credit: Nurul Izzah’s Facebook
PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar played a critical role in facilitating Pua’s return. In a Facebook post, she recounted supporting him by connecting him to policy‑making circles, ministries, and agencies such as the Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC). This included introducing Pua to the ecosystem needed to relaunch his vision in Malaysia.
“Pua told me… he still wanted to return to serve his beloved homeland,” she wrote. “I supported his efforts by connecting him to the relevant policy ecosystem… to make Selangor the Silicon Valley of Malaysia.”
The birth of MaiStorage
Credit: Nurul Izzah’s Facebook
In a landmark move, Datuk Pua Khein Seng has launched MaiStorage (Malaysia AI Storage), a wholly owned subsidiary of his Taiwan-based company Phison Electronics Corporation. With an initial capital injection of RM100 million, MaiStorage is headquartered in Selangor and represents a significant commitment to transforming Malaysia’s role in the global tech ecosystem.
At the core of MaiStorage’s mission is the development and retention of Malaysian engineering talent. The company has implemented an aggressive talent acquisition strategy, offering RM6,000 starting salaries to fresh graduates and competitive five-figure salaries for experienced engineers. Within its first year, the company achieved break-even and hired more than 60 Malaysian engineers, with plans to expand the team and train up to 175 engineers by 2026.
Beyond job creation, MaiStorage is also facilitating major technology transfers from Taiwan to Malaysia, targeting over RM1 billion in tech infusion. This includes proprietary storage architecture like Phison’s enterprise-grade PASCARI platform and the aiDAPTIV+ system designed for scalable AI and LLM training environments. The company also envisions establishing a robust ecosystem for R&D and semiconductor innovation—laying the foundation for Malaysia to become a high-tech design and production hub.
The future
Credit: Norman Goh
MaiStorage is more than just a business venture; it is a statement of intent. As of mid-2025, the company has not only met key operational milestones, but also laid out ambitious plans for the future. Among these is a strategic goal to list on Bursa Malaysia by 2028. The IPO is not just about funding expansion—it’s about sharing ownership with employees and ensuring long-term alignment between the company’s success and the wellbeing of its workforce.
The trajectory is clear: with sustainable talent pipelines, strategic public-private partnerships, and global technological expertise, MaiStorage is poised to help position Malaysia as a digital and semiconductor powerhouse in Southeast Asia. As Pua himself stated, this isn’t just a business plan—it’s the fulfillment of a promise to return home and build a future that belongs to Malaysians.
