A National Champion for Software Testing and Quality Assurance
The Malaysia Software Testing Board (MSTB) stands at the forefront of software quality assurance (SQA) and testing in Malaysia, driving the adoption of global standards, professional certifications, and industry best practices. Established as a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG), MSTB has been instrumental in shaping Malaysia’s software testing landscape, ensuring that the country’s tech industry aligns with international quality benchmarks.
MSTB’s journey began in mid-2006 with the formation of its Protem Committee, leading to its acceptance as an ISTQB® member in November 2006. Officially incorporated on June 23, 2008, MSTB has since played a pivotal role in strengthening Malaysia’s position as a regional hub for software testing and quality assurance, fostering local expertise and industry collaborations. Governed by a Board of Directors comprising industry practitioners, consultants, trainers, and academicians, MSTB ensures that all initiatives and income generated are reinvested into advancing software testing and quality assurance efforts. MSTB is also a member of the Asian Software Testing Alliance (ASTA), a regional alliance comprised of member countries of ISTQB. The regional headquarters for ASTA is based in Malaysia with MSTB functioning as its secretariat.
Malaysia’s early 2000s tech boom—driven by initiatives like MSC Malaysia, the expansion of broadband internet, and the rise of local tech companies—set the foundation for the country’s digital economy. While Cyberjaya sought to become Southeast Asia’s Silicon Valley, Malaysia witnessed rapid advancements in e-government, fintech, and e-commerce. As the nation’s digital infrastructure grew, the need for high-quality, reliable software became more critical than ever. MSTB emerged in this transformative era, ensuring that Malaysia’s growing tech industry adhered to global software testing standards, fostering a culture of quality and innovation.
Vision
- To promote software testing as a respectable profession throughout the ICT industry in Malaysia
- To propagate the ISTQB tester certification as a standard for K-Workers within the ICT profession in Malaysia
- To promote growth of IT software industry in Malaysia through quality software that is of world-standard and recognized worldwide.
Mission
- To engage participation of the industry to adopt and adapt testing as integral part of quality
- Contribute to the supply of K-Workers by providing the skill sets required by the ICT industry through ISTQB Certification programs
- To contribute to the common body of understanding and knowledge about testing through participation in ISTQB platforms
Members of the Board
Director & President
Mastura Abu Samah
Director
Azizah Hamzah
Director
Prof. Madya Dr. Rozilawati
CTFL, CTAL-TM, CT-AT
CT-UT, CT-SEC
Financial Controller
Norlida Mohamad Hizam
Organization Structure
Our Track Record
Building a Strong Software Testing Ecosystem
MSTB actively collaborates with industry players, government agencies, and academia to enhance Malaysia’s software testing capabilities. Through training, certification, and advocacy, MSTB has helped establish a robust ecosystem where software quality is prioritized at every stage of development.
Key initiatives include:
1. Certification Programs: MSTB offers globally recognized certifications in software testing and requirements engineering to elevate the professional standards of IT practitioners.
2. Industry Collaboration: Working closely with public and private sectors, MSTB supports quality-driven software development practices.
3. Education & Skills Development: MSTB partners with universities and training providers to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled software testers and requirements engineers.
Malaysia Software Testing Hub (MSTH)
From 2009 to 2018, MSTB spearheaded the Malaysia Software Testing Hub (MSTH) initiative, a public-private collaboration aimed at developing a knowledge-centric software testing industry. Recognized as a new source of economic growth, MSTH was designed to position Malaysia as a preferred global destination for high-value software testing services. Adopting a holistic ecosystem approach, MSTH focused on synchronizing various industry components—engaging the government, industry players, and academia to foster a sustainable and competitive software testing landscape. The initiative was strategically aligned with national economic plans (RMK-10 and RMK-11), contributing to human capital development, economic growth, and global industry recognition. Among the key contributions of MSTH are:
1. Government & Policy Support: Facilitated funding, demand generation, and international collaboration.
2. Industry Development: Strengthened Malaysia’s position in the global software testing market through demand-side and supply-side initiatives.
3. Academic & R&D Collaboration: Nurtured a pipeline of skilled professionals through competency-building programs and research partnerships.
As part of MSTH, MSTB introduced several key subprogrammes to enhance Malaysia’s software testing ecosystem. The Q-Capability programme focused on building the skills and expertise of software testers and requirements engineers. The Q-Lab programme established the country’s first state-of-the-art testing lab, open to all industries, to promote and facilitate the adoption of advanced testing technologies and tools. The Q-Industry programme aimed to raise awareness about the importance of Software Quality Assurance (SQA) across various sectors. Meanwhile, the Q-Portal programme served as a communication platform, providing access to industry information, business opportunities, and testing services for the public and the testing community. MSTH ran until December 2018, leaving a lasting impact on Malaysia’s software testing ecosystem and laying the groundwork for future advancements in quality assurance, software validation, and digital transformation initiatives.
SOFTECAsia: The Premier Software Testing Conference
Since its launch, SOFTECAsia has been the leading regional conference dedicated to software testing and quality assurance, organized by MSTB to advance industry practices, professional development, and thought leadership. Over the years, SOFTECAsia has covered a broad spectrum of themes, reflecting the evolution of software testing, from fundamentals of test engineering to cutting-edge advancements in automation, DevOps, AI-driven testing, and quality engineering. SOFTECAsia contributed in the following ways:
1. Driving Thought Leadership: Bringing together global experts to discuss emerging trends in testing and quality assurance.
2. Industry & Academia Collaboration: Bridging research and practice to promote innovation in software quality.
3. Shaping Malaysia’s Role in Software Testing: Positioning the country as a center for software testing excellence in the region.
With its strong legacy, SOFTEC Asia continues to evolve, fostering a future-ready software testing community and reinforcing Malaysia’s position in the global quality assurance landscape.
Affiliates & Partners
Uniting global standards and regional expertise to drive excellence in software testing.
International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB®)
As a member since 2006, MSTB administers ISTQB® certification programs in Malaysia, including Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL), Advanced Level (CTAL), and Expert Level (CTEL)—certifications recognized worldwide. Officially founded in Edinburgh in November 2002, the primary purpose of the ISTQB® is to support a single, universally accepted, international qualification scheme for software and system testing professionals, by providing the core syllabi and by setting guidelines for the exams which are set by the regional/national boards. The ISTQB® is responsible for the “ISTQB® Certified Tester”, which is an international qualification scheme and the qualifications in the scheme are based on a syllabus.
International Requirements Engineering Board (IREB)
Since 2009, MSTB has been the official representative of IREB in Malaysia, offering the Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE) certification to enhance skills in requirements analysis and management. IREB sets international standards to enhance requirement analysis, documentation, and management. Through its certification programs, IREB helps professionals and organizations improve software quality, project success, and stakeholder communication.
TMMi Foundation
MSTB has been appointed as the TMMi Local Chapter for Malaysia since September 2018. As a TMMi Local Chapter, MSTB is responsible to promote the TMMi Professional Certification Scheme (for individuals) and TMMi Assessment (for organisational certification) in Malaysia. MSTB also works towards having officially recognised Malaysia-based recognised TMMI professional training providers and TMMi assessment service providers.
Asia Software Quality Network (ASQN)
MSTB is a member of Asia Software Quality Network (ASQN), an industry-led grouping of Asian Countries, led by Japan, focussing on promotion of software quality throughout the region. Other members of ASQN include China, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore.
Objectives of ASQN are:
1. To share knowledge and experiences on practical methods/ techniques and organizational success stories in in relation to Software Quality practices.
2. To provide opportunities for dedicated organizations, practitioners and researchers to demonstrates their excellent outcomes, capability and professional competencies with regards to Software Quality
3. To propagate good Software Quality practices in the Asian region and be the “voice” to increase awareness on Asia’s Software Quality practices at the global level
MSTB Impartiality Policy
MALAYSIAN SOFTWARE TESTING BOARD (MSTB) fully understands the importance of impartiality in carrying out its certification activities. Our structure, policies and procedures are designed to manage any conflict of interest and to ensure the objectivity of our management system and certification activities;
MSTB shall act impartially, and its policies and procedures for certification of persons shall be fair among all its applicants, candidates and certified persons;
MSTB shall not restrict certification on the grounds of undue financial or other limiting conditions, such as membership of an association or group;
MSTB shall be responsible for the impartiality of its certification and inspection activities and shall not allow commercial, financial or other pressures to compromise impartiality;
MSTB shall ensure personnel will not be influenced by financial, commercial, or other pressures when conducting certification and inspection activities, and will take action to address any situation that would affect impartiality;
MSTB shall ensure certification personnel declare any potential conflicts of interest as per stated in Non-Disclosure Agreement;
Any complaints, appeals and feedback regarding the certification process can be addressed to MSTB’s top management
Version: 1.0.0
Approved Date: 10 June 2021