Google to open office in Malaysia, more localized content and services coming

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Google to open office in Malaysia, more localized content and services coming

January 28th, 2011

Google to open office in Malaysia, more localized content and services coming

The world’s best company is coming to Malaysia. After four years operating in Singapore, search engine giant Google has finally decided to open a new office in Malaysia as its second in the region.

Google Southeast Asia chief Julian Persaud said Malaysia has one of the “highest percentages of usage of Google’s Web browser, Chrome, in Asia Pacific” together with 17 million Internet users from a population of 27 million. Household broadband penetration in Malaysia now stood at 55.6 per cent surpassing last year’s target of 50 per cent.

“The online environment in Malaysia is growing rapidly, with significant developments in both broadband Internet access and e-commerce activities,” he told reporters.

“We are pleased to establish our newest operations in Kuala Lumpur, where we can draw from the highest quality local talent to further help users find the information they’re looking for,” he added.

Persaud said Google was targeting small and medium enterprises in Malaysia with its “search and display” services, aimed at helping them reach new markets.

He said the Malaysian operations would customise products such as Google Maps, Google News and Google Translate for the local market. Google said it will hire a record number of people this year, after taking on more than 6,000 workers worldwide last year.

Persaud also said the return of co-founder Larry Page to the company’s helm in April would not affect operations in the region.

“I don’t see it as much of a change as the current CEO will still be in the company… It’s business as usual,” he said.
Last week, in a surprise shakeup of its top management, the California-based company announced that Eric Schmidt, its chief executive over the past decade, would step aside in April and be replaced by Page.

Despite revenues of nearly $30 billion last year, Google is under pressure from new rivals such as Facebook and Twitter for the attention of Web surfers, advertising dollars and engineering talent. I guess it’s time to polish up the resume.