PM Najib Wants Apple To Set Up Its R&D Centre In Malaysia

In a statement made shortly after the Prime Minister's visit to Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, he said that he has asked the Cupertino giant to consider the possibility of setting up of an Apple Research & Development centre in Malaysia.

"We are looking at the opportunity of an Apple Research and Development Centre for the Asia-Pacific in Malaysia, to focus on innovative ways of using mobile technology to promote learning among children. Apart from that, to further expand the potential of young minds in Malaysia, we will also look at setting up an Apple Excellence Development Centre to identify, educate and produce local application developers."

"The Centre will focus on identifying, educating and creating local application developers. Aside from that, we will also be exploring the possibility of establishing an Apple Application Development Excellence Centre that will focus on innovative ways of using mobile technology to stimulate learning in children. These local developers will design applications for the Apple Store that are suitable for education and the local market," Najib added in his blog of his visit to Apple headquarters on Thursday, 18 Feb.

It could be the second Apple store in Southeast Asia after the proposed outlet in Singapore, which is slated to open a little later this year. The company’s entire operations in Singapore will be powered by renewable energy in a move that mirrors initiatives in the U.S., Europe and, most recently, China.

As of now, the closest physical Apple Stores are located in Australia and Hong Kong.

However, while Apple has confirmed that it is investing USD25 million (RM104 million) in a new technology development center in Hyderabad, India, indicating that the company is willing to expand development outside the US -- and may respond positively to Malaysia's open invitation -- it seems highly unlikely that the company is going to do so in the near future.