About 15 years ago, the life of Wei Siong Tan , a Shanghai-based Malaysian,was totally different to where he is now. Back then, he worked as an operations manager, overseeing the production of both camera lenses and hinges for cell phones. The work involved operators manually inspecting all the camera lenses for quality in the production process. He recognised the limitations of human visual quality inspection. Humans get tired, emotional, inconsistent and inaccurate in their judgement of quality. So, he had an epiphany: “Why not create my own visual quality inspection programme?” That day, the idea of Glow-AI Inc. began to manifest in his mind.
After years of strategic pivot, Wei Siong launched Glow-AI. The visual inspection solution does not rely on human judgement, is more cost-effective and provides more information through data and statistics that can be used to improve and optimise the inspection process. Now, Glow-AI is a leader in AI visual inspection and specialises in the inspection of fresh palm fruit bunches, a necessary step in the process of making palm oil.
Looking for opportunities to expand his business, Wei Siong set his eyes on the Southeast Asia region and eventually decided to extend his company’s footprint to his home country, Malaysia.
An opportunity in the ‘palm’ of his country.
“Malaysia is blessed with a rich mix of culture, race, religion and cuisine. This diversity helps Malaysians recognise and appreciate differences, which enhances our ability to adapt and respond to various challenges. This adaptability is crucial in the rapidly evolving field of AI.”
After conducting a comprehensive evaluation of various regional markets, including Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, Wei Siong and his company decided to expand to Malaysia due to the immense government support, market accessibility and business opportunities. These factors made Wei Siong’s home country an easy choice for expansion.
He shares his belief in Malaysia and its potential to grow into an AI hub, expressing that Glow-AI is committed to contributing to Malaysia’s growing AI ecosystem by supporting development of local talents.
But, as a Malaysian who has been living abroad for over 27 years, Wei Siong needed help bringing his business to Malaysia.
Thankfully, Wei Siong had learnt about the MyHeart initiative at the Salam Dari Malaysia networking event hosted by TalentCorp in Shanghai last November. The initiative resonated with him as a meaningful way to support the Malaysian diaspora, particularly those aiming to contribute to the nation’s development. So when Glow-AI began planning its market entry into Southeast Asia, Wei Siong reached out to TalentCorp for assistance. Through facilitation under MyHeart, he was connected with the relevant stakeholders in Malaysia, ensuring he had access to sufficient and accurate information to make informed decisions regarding Glow-AI’s investment in the country. The key stakeholders included NCER Malaysia , Cradle Fund and universities like Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Kuala Lumpur for potential talent recruitment and development.
Thomas Mathew, Group Chief Executive Officer of TalentCorp, states: “TalentCorp is delighted to welcome Glow-AI’s investment in Malaysia, and we’re confident that this will open new avenues for innovation and contribute to Malaysia’s position as a hub for advanced technologies. MyHeart fully supports the decision as it not only benefits the company but also contributes back to the local economy by creating high-quality employment opportunities for Malaysian talent.”
The NCIA, who played a significant role in Glow-AI’s Malaysian expansion, also expresses: “We believe in nurturing emerging technologies, advancing talent development and investing in critical infrastructure. As we seek to transform the Northern Corridor into a dynamic business hub, we welcome global investors and corporations to be a part of our journey. With that, we are extremely proud to welcome Glow-AI for choosing to go on this journey with us, especially since one of the founders is a Malaysian who is returning home.”
Grateful for receiving all the support to expand his business from his home country, this anak Malaysia is ready to make his way back home.
“Selamat Kembali!”
During his time studying in the US, there was a period of seven years when he didn’t return to Malaysia. When he finally returned, he was greeted with the words “Selamat Kembali” for the first time. Upon hearing those words, he remarks that he felt a sense of warmth in his heart. Now, after all these years, he is ready to come home, with MyHeart’s Returning Expert Programme (REP) facilitating him. The hospitality and willingness of his home country to aid him through this process has made that same feeling return once more.
There had been a time when it took all the courage in him to leave his home to pursue his dreams. That same courage finds him again as he ties up loose ends and gets the gears turning for Glow-AI’s business expansion back home. And in that duality, he shares a final sentiment to Malaysians all around the world, who may be in the same position. He remarks that he wishes he could look them all in the eye and tell them all:
“I know you’re capable, if not you wouldn’t have survived overseas for all these years. What I hope you would do, is to find the same courage that you did so many years ago when you left Malaysia, find that courage again to consider Malaysia as part of your plan in the coming future.”
If you are a Malaysian living abroad looking for opportunities to expand your business into Malaysia like Wei Siong, register on MyHeart to keep yourself updated on the latest developments in Malaysia and explore opportunities.
