Expanding to Malaysia: A Guide for US Tech Companies
By Mohamed Lotfi SassiPublished 2 min read
We set up our own company in Malaysia, so this isn't theory for us. Southeast Asia is one of the fastest-growing digital markets in the world, and Malaysia is one of the easiest ways in. Business runs in English, costs are well below Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur has a deep pool of engineers.
Here's what a US tech company should know before making the move.
Why Malaysia
- A gateway to the region. Close to Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, with strong flight and business links.
- English-speaking business culture, alongside Malay, Chinese and Tamil.
- Government support for digital companies through Malaysia Digital status, administered by MDEC.
- Islamic finance expertise, useful for fintech products serving the region's Muslim-majority markets.
What to plan for
Language
Your product, support and marketing will need Malay, and often Chinese. AI translation and video dubbing make this much faster than it used to be.
Data protection
Malaysia's Personal Data Protection Act applies to personal data processed in Malaysia, and it was strengthened by amendments in 2024. Plan for clear consent, breach notification and careful handling of data transfers.
Local presence
Many customers and partners expect a local entity and a local team. It also makes hiring and banking simpler.
Talent
Kuala Lumpur has strong engineering talent, but hiring a full AI team from zero takes months.
A faster route
Instead of building a team from scratch, you can work with an AI team already on the ground. They adapt your product, handle localisation and run it locally, while reporting to your US lead.
Your first 90 days
- Validate demand with a localised landing page and a few pilot customers.
- Localise the product and support.
- Set up data protection and hosting.
- Decide on an entity and a long-term team.