[ad_1]
KUALA LUMPUR: Sony will close a factory in Malaysia next year to consolidate its operations at its other plant in the state for efficiency, the Japanese electronics giant said on Saturday (December 5).
The company told Reuters in an email that it always takes into account market conditions, business growth potential and other factors, as part of an ongoing review of its investments and business operations.
“As part of this review, Sony will consolidate its manufacturing operations by transferring its Penang operations to Selangor, to further improve operational efficiency,” said Director of the Penang Human Resources Division, Ric Ong.
Operations at the plant will end on September 30 and close at the end of March 2022, affecting about 3,600 employees in Penang.
Some of the Penang employees will be transferred to the other plant, Penang Trade Chairman Abdul Halim Hussain told local news portal FMT on Thursday.
Penang, in the north of Peninsular Malaysia, has for decades been a manufacturing center for many foreign brands of electrical and electronic products, including Intel, Panasonic and Dell Technologies.
Sony began operations in Malaysia in October 1973, marketing, selling and servicing consumer electronic products, as well as broadcast and professional products and solutions, according to its website.
The Penang plant mainly produces home audio products, network walkmans, headphones and batteries, while the Selangor plant, near the capital Kuala Lumpur, manufactures LCD TVs, Blu-ray players and other key components.
