KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysian IT outfits were ranked among the top 100 companies in Deloitte Technology Fast500 Asia Pacific Ranking 2009, which recognises the region’s fastest-growing technology firms.

Among the three Malaysian firms was semiconductor, components and electronics company JF Microtechnology Sdn Bhd, which ranked 30th in the region with a three-year average revenue growth of 808.69%.

It was followed by Internet-based firm Devices World Sdn Bhd, which was ranked 33rd with a three-year average revenue growth of 759.06%, and software developer Kreateevee Sdn Bhd, at 96th with a three-year average revenue growth of 373.49%.

Deloitte has tracked fast-growing technology companies in the region over the past eight years and bases its Technology Fast500 Asia Pacific Ranking on a three-year average percentage for revenue growth for public and private companies in Australia, China (including Hong Kong), Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

“Though companies were stirred by the financial downturn, they were not shaken, and kept growth targets in sight. They adapted where necessary, and that’s the cutting-edge approach that our winners own,” said Deloitte Malaysia country managing partner Tan Theng Hooi of the winners.

Apart from the three that made it to the top 100, another five Malaysian firms have made it to the 500-list. These are Bsmart Technology Sdn Bhd, which is ranked 263rd, IRIS Corp Bhd at 350th, IDimension MSC Sdn Bhd at 351st, Exa Bytes Network Sdn Bhd at 370th, and Riskk.com Sdn Bhd at 473rd. The majority of the Malaysian enterprises in the rankings are software companies.

2009 was also a consecutive win for JF Microtechnology, Kreateevee, Bsmart Technology, IRIS Corp and Riskk.com.

Devices World CEO Eddie Cheah said the company had erred little from its initial strategy to achieve the ranking.

“We followed a very unique operating structure and have been commercially successful because we operate in an extremely disciplined system,” he said.  

“Our development costs are kept at very low levels through the innovative use of low-cost technologies.”

According to Deloitte, the number of Malaysian winners in 2009 dipped marginally from 2008 despite the global economic slump.

“It clearly depicts that the Malaysian business landscape is still energetic and competitive even in a global crisis,” it said in a statement.

For the 2009 rankings, the top 10 companies were primarily from China and Taiwan, with Vancl (Beijing) Technology Co Ltd, High Power Opto Inc and Xueda Education Technology Co Ltd the top three winners with three-year average revenue growth of 29,576.86%, 7,239.95% and 2,738.34%, respectively.


This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, February 3, 2010.