1st Silicon Awarded ISO9001:2000 Certification

KUCHING, Sarawak, Malaysia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 30, 2001--1st Silicon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. announced that the Company had achieved ISO9001:2000 certification qualification. Qualification was completed after the new standard became available in December 2000 and 1st Silicon became one of the world's first foundries to meet the new global quality standard.

The new ISO9001:2000 combines the three previous standards ISO9001:1994, ISO9002:1994 and ISO9003:1994 into a more stringent, all-encompassing, quality management system which includes greater emphasis on the following important elements:

• Continual Improvement (a mandatory requirement by itself),
• Top Management's Role in the entire program,
• Legal and Regulatory requirements,
• Measurable Objectives at relevant functions and levels,
• Monitoring of Customer Satisfaction as a Measure of System Performance,
• Attention to Resource Availability
• Training Effectiveness and Competency of Personnel
• Process-based Structure and Strengthened Customer Orientation

By Dec 2003, all previously certified ISO 9001/9002:1994 standard/certification will be void, if not upgraded to ISO 9001:2000.

1st Silicon CEO, Mr. Claudio G. Loddo, remarked, "1st Silicon is proud of achieving this rigorous level of manufacturing certification. This qualification reinforces 1st Silicon's focus on quality foundry services and our commitment to establish an efficient manufacturing operation that meets the latest standards and expectations."

The ISO 9001:2000 certification is part of 1st Silicon's continual quality improvement program, which in the future would include other international certifications such as QS9000 and ISO14000.

About 1st Silicon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

1st Silicon is a dedicated semiconductor foundry founded in 1998 by the Malaysian State of Sarawak. 1st Silicon's 200mm-wafer fab has a capacity in excess of 30,000 wafers per month when fully ramped. The Company has started volume production with 0.25um digital and mixed signal CMOS technology in Q1 2001, and has introduced its 0.18um process. 1st Silicon's customers include Integrated Device Manufacturers and Fabless Semiconductor companies from the US, Japan, and Asia. The Company has its headquarters in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, and a US registered subsidiary corporation located in San Jose, California. Please visit 1st Silicon's homepage at www.1stsilicon.com for more information.

NOTE: "1st Silicon" and the 1st Silicon logo are trademarks belonging to 1st Silicon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

     1st Silicon
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     www.1stsilicon.com
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