If you ever want to gain the makerspace experience and learn how to make your ideas come to life, these are some of the best places that you should visit where you can do just that! From the very urban Kuala Lumpur to the chill and laid-back Kuching, let's take a stroll down the top 10 makerspaces in Malaysia, the things they do, and the services they provide.
10. KakiDIY (They move around and are cool people!)
KakiDIY is located in Kuala Lumpur, but they are known to move around and give lessons, workshops, and repair things at times. They have conducted many workshops and maker-related events to simply teach children and older people the importance of knowing how to build and maintain your items.
KakiDIY has an exciting initiative called Kaki Repair, where participants from all walks of life are openly invited to come and learn how to fix their broken... anything. That's right, anything! Just bring a damaged item, learn to fix it, and leave a donation in the box by the door.
KakiDIY address: The Garage KL, Jalan Hillview, Taman Sri Ukay, 68000 Ampang Jaya, Selangor.
They are open everyday from 12PM to 6PM and 10AM to 6PM on the weekends.
Follow their Facebook page at https://facebook.com/kakidiy for more information on events and Kaki Repair sessions.
9. FAB SPACE KL
Yes, another space in Kuala Lumpur, but hear us out. The name suggests that you can fabricate things, and you can. FabSpace is based on the Tokyo-based Fab Lab. Fun fact: a team from Fab Cafe Japan came all the way to Malaysia to teach the founding duo how to use the machines. Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, FabSpace KL is all about fabulous creations, for everyone!
Founded by designers and staffed by creatives, FabSpace looks to educate people on the interesting things one can do with these machines without breaking the bank. You can sign up for workshops and learn how to use a laser cutter, UV printer, 3D Printers, a CNC Milling machine, an embroidery machine, a sewing machine, a 3D scanner, a latex printer, and a ScanNCut machine. They are also looking to add more machines to build their dream space.
FabSpace KL address: Isetan 50, 10, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur AKA Lot 10.
They are open every Monday to Friday from 11AM to 7PM and 12PM to 6PM on Saturdays, closed on Sundays.
Keep yourself updated with their activities by following their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/fabspacekl/?hl=en and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FabSpaceKL/.
8. PENANG SCIENCE CLUSTER
We move on to the Malaysian capital for good food, Penang. The story started as a local government initiative to provide better exposure to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. Penang Science Cluster came into fruition to create a space to educate the populace on technical innovations and digital entrepreneurship.
As a non-profit organization, the initiative is more on the education sector, teaching school kids how to develop 21st-century skills such as industrial designing basics, 3D modeling, programming, and communications. The initiative also builds young talents in the business and tech entrepreneurship industries, providing workshops and classes to harness these talents.
They also made their makerspace Penang Science Cafe open to the public to act as a community space and communications hub for STEM-related events. They also host events like science fairs, custom workshops for schools, member-based use of their makerspace with monthly training, maker meetups, and more.
Penang Science Cluster address: Wisma Yeap Chor Ee, 37, Gat Lebuh China, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang.
They are open everyday from 9AM to 6PM.
Keep updated with their activities by following their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/pscpen/?hl=en and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PenangScienceCluster/.
7. CHUMBAKA DIGITAL MAKER HUB
Moving back to Selangor, we go to Cyberjaya, known for being a city that is also a playground for science and technology to go wild. A Malaysian Silicon Valley, if you will. This is where Chumbaka is located. What are they and what do they do?
Chumbaka organizes workshops in schools and uses open-source technologies as its platform for educating the masses. Their focus is on school children and they have produced head-spinning innovators through their Junior Innovate competition. Chumbaka also runs workshops, programs, and educational activities in their makerspace in Cyberjaya with their vision to create a better future for all through educating children on the importance of ICT and promoting positive values at the same time.
With workshops and classes in locations from Selangor to Sarawak, Chumbaka teaches programming, creative computing, animation, circuit theory all the way to game mechanics in a comprehensive four-level development curriculum. You can sign your kids up for these classes on their website.
Chumbaka Digital Maker Hub locations
Cyberjaya: 2nd Floor, Cyberview Sdn Bhd, Block 3750, Persiaran Apec, Cyber 8, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor.
Johor Bahru: Suite 3.3 Menara Pelangi, No. 2, Jalan Kuning, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor.
Kota Kinabalu: Jalan Tuaran, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Kuching: C2-1-5, Canaan Square, Jalan Stutong Baru, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak.
Melaka: Lorong Tambi Abdullah 4, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka
Miri: All Aboard Young Leaders Centre, 2nd Floor, Lot 1879, Marina Square Phase 2, 98000 Miri, Sarawak.
Penang: 303-4-8, Block B, Krystal Point, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang.
Sibu: 1, Jalan Nibong, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak.
Singapore Sparklife Pte Ltd: Block 11 Kallang Place #07-05, Singapore 339155.
They are open on weekdays from 9:30AM to 4PM, Saturdays from 10:30AM to 4PM and are closed on Sundays.
Keep yourself updated with their activities by following their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/chumbaka.cyberjaya/?hl=en and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/chumbaka.asia/.
6. HAUS KCH
Take a one-hour flight from KLIA and you land in Kuching. On top of the excellent food, lovely people, festivals, and a great environment, you will find HAUS KCH, which stands for Harmonise, Accelerate, Unite and Sustain, and KCH stands for Kuching City. In their own words, HAUS is a community-led and community-powered project that revitalizes abandoned buildings into creative and community launchpads. Sounds cool, but what exactly do they do?
The project spans across the wide net of social initiatives run in-house and their community partners, events, local music festivals, art residency, and exhibitions featuring local artists. They also are an event space and makerspace, providing tie-dye shirt making, printing and traditional Sarawakian art and folklore workshops and lectures, even concerts and open mic nights where you can book a spot and showcase your talents or test your material.
HAUS also acts as a host for you to come and work in their space. They are a coworking space where many talented artists have set up shop. Oh, and did we mention, they sometimes host game nights? A cool place indeed.
HAUS KCH address: Lot 4766 & 4767, Jalan Kwong Lee Bank City Square, Pending Heights I, 64, Jalan Pending, KTLD, 93450 Kuching, Sarawak.
They are open every weekday from 10AM to 7PM, and are closed on weekends.
Keep yourself updated with their activities by following their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/hauskch/?hl=en and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hauskch/.
5. TAYLOR’S ME.REKA MAKERSPACE
This is a little bit of a plug, but we have some points to put ahead. Taylor's Me.reka is a collaborative effort between us at Me.reka and Taylor's University to create a maker hub for industry players, academics, and the entrepreneurial communities to come and have a good time innovating and creating.
From consultancies to workshops, Taylor's Me.reka is a place for all that and more. You can rent the space for any sort of project. Taylor's Me.reka works with the Final Year students to help them execute their FYPs successfully. We also have a program called the MPU 4 Module that seeks to change student mindsets on the perception of what universities should be.
The Taylor's Me.reka Makerspace also has the ever so loved labs that we provided in our old space, including VR, Design, Electronics, Fabrication labs that are available to be used.
Taylor’s Me.reka Makerspace address: G-10, SYOPZ Mall, 1, Jalan Taylors, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor.
They are open every weekday from 9AM to 6PM, and are closed on weekends.
Keep yourself updated with their activities by following their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/taylorsxmereka/?hl=en and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TaylorsxMerekaMakerspace/.
4. KINABALU CODERS
Kinabalu Coders (KC) was brought to life by a coalition of leaders, organizers, and volunteers from the tech industry, together with maker-related communities and local industries. Kinabalu Coders provides a platform for its members to connect with each other, making technology more accessible, share their knowledge and collaborate on projects, and reach out to like-minded people and organizations all across Sabah.
The KC is known to be a very collaborative company. They support local companies and communities to improve their workflow and help them innovate to better their chances in the market. Kinabalu Coders also supports innovators, artists, and creators of all forms, especially those in Sabah.
KC also does events, from gaming-specific events to teaching people how to be innovators and game-changers in the industry, with help from IOTs and design-specific machines like 3D printers and the like.
Kinabalu Coders address: Level 9, Wisma Bandaraya, Jalan Padang, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
They are open every Monday and Thursday from 9AM to 10PM and Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9AM to 4PM, and are closed on weekends.
Keep yourself updated with their activities by following their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/kinabalucoders/ and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KinabaluCoders/.
3. ARUS ACADEMY
Arus Academy is based in Penang and has a second location in Shah Alam. Both the locations serve one purpose: teaching after-school classes where students actively solve problems by building and creating their own physical and digital solutions, with the aim to make learning relevant and a loved activity for the students.
Arus runs multiple programs for school children in their pursuit to make learning a loved activity. One such example is the Young Maker Club, their flagship program that goes on for half a year equipping students from the age of 13 with computer science, design thinking, project making, and presentation skills. This program consists of two semesters each year. They also have many other programs made specifically for children from the ages of 10 and above.
The second location in Shah Alam is their Maker Studio, where they have laser cutters, 3D Printers, Electronic and Crafting labs, and they host workshops on the weekends to teach people from all walks of life.
Kinabalu Coders locations
Penang: 86, Jalan Perniagaan, Pusat Perniagaan Alma, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang.
Shah Alam: 65, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
At the time of writing this post, the spaces are unfortunately temporarily closed.
Keep yourself updated with their activities by following their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/arusacademy/ and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/arusmalaysia/
2. SUNWAY ILABS
Launched in 2017, iLabs aims to encourage entrepreneurship in youths. They also look to stimulating market-driven innovations with the purpose of helping entrepreneurs become more competitive in this rapidly changing environment. They have a startup foundry: it is a course in Sunway University but with no lecturers and no exams, just very innovative classes teaching design thinking, Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship (BMoE), problem-solution fit, and many more classes with speakers and mentors that have tremendous experience in the startup industry.
iLabs offers many services, from consulting startups and corporate businesses on how to innovate and be above the cut, to research and development, which was made to create innovations to accelerate companies' growth and development in any capacity. These co-creating unique solutions fit the company like a well-made suit.
Let's get to the makerspace. With 2 Ultimaker 3D printers, laser cutter, IOT kits, and Adobe design software in clutch, and having space to accommodate 40 people in a single workshop, the space is definitely a must-visit for anyone that is doing a makerspace tour in Malaysia, and it is free for all Sunway students and staff. As the website states, "If you are feeling shy, you can email narviinyam@sunway.edu.my to inquire" about the space.
Sunway iLabs address: Menara Sunway, Level 1, Jalan Lagoon Timur (9/1), Bandar Sunway, 47500, Selangor.
They are open every Monday to Friday from 9AM to 6PM, and are open upon request on the weekends.
Keep yourself updated with their activities by following their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/sunwayilabs/?hl=en and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SunwayiLabs/.
1. ME.REKA MAKERSPACE
Multipurpose space, a fully equipped food technology kitchen, courses, workshops, great innovative team, 3D printers, laser cutter, awesome design and research team and can accommodate in-house events. What more could you want from a makerspace?
Me.reka came to fruition in the year 2017 with a PitchIN campaign founded by Rashvin Pal Singh and Gurpreet Dhillon. The 12,000 square foot space in Publika Shopping Gallery holds some of the best events and maker-related opportunities in Malaysia. Me.reka's pursuit to educate and innovate did not only stay in the posh areas of Kuala Lumpur, as they gained traction after partnering with UNICEF Malaysia, reaching out to undocumented students in Sabah and granting them access to technology and innovative learning.
With programs ranging from corporate training to workshops for kids, Me.reka is a proponent for the circular economy and IR 4.0 movement with a firm hold on Malaysia, especially after the lockdowns. Digital services like web design and copywriting are also provided. The 12,000 square foot space still houses VR, Design, Electronics, Fabrication, and Fashion labs. You can learn how to make quite literally anything here, provided you are open to learning new and innovative methods using clean materials.
Me.reka Makerspace address: Lot 1C, Level G1 (A4 Entrance) Publika Shopping Gallery, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
They are open every Monday to Friday from 10AM to 8PM, and 12PM to 6PM on weekends.
Keep yourself updated with their activities by following their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/mereka.my/ and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mereka.my?_rdc=1&_rdr.
