Latest news with #Amanah
New Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Johor data centres drive revenue but strain resources, says Amanah leader
JOHOR BARU: Johor's aggressive push to become Southeast Asia's data centre hub has drawn fresh scrutiny, with a leader from Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) warning of potential strain on the state's power grid, water supply and environment. Amanah Johor deputy chief Dzulkefly Ahmad said he supports the concerns raised by Kukup assemblyman Jefridin Atan during the recent state assembly sitting, particularly over the long-term sustainability of critical resources. During the session, the Johor government was urged to review the guidelines for data centre development following concerns about environmental impact and resource sustainability. Jefridin said the main issues are high energy and water requirements to support data centre operations, which could strain existing utility systems. Dzulkefly revealed that Johor has approved 50 data centre projects within two years, including in Sedenak Tech Park, Nusajaya Tech Park, YTL DC Park and SiLC Nusajaya, with tech giants like Microsoft, ByteDance and Equinix among the investors. "The conversion of agricultural land and premium payments for industrial use are believed to be key contributors to Johor's RM2.1 billion revenue surge in 2024," he said in a statement today. Malaysia, especially Johor, has emerged as a top destination for data centre investments following Singapore's moratorium on new builds between 2019 and 2022. Investors are drawn by lower land and utility costs, proximity to Singapore, and generous tax breaks. Dzulkefly, however, warned that this growth comes at a cost. "Power demands from data centres in Malaysia have reached 11,000MW, nearly 40 per cent of Peninsular Malaysia's total generation capacity. "This could pressure the national power grid," he said. Water usage is also a concern. Environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) estimates a 100MW data centre consumes over 4 million litres of clean water daily or equivalent to the needs of a town with 10,000 people. He said Johor buys 16 million gallons (60.56 million litres) of treated water daily from Singapore, exceeding the 5 million gallons (18.9 million litres) stipulated under the 1962 agreement, due to rising domestic demand. In March, the Johor government announced a RM3.5 billion plan to build three new water treatment plants to boost capacity by 41 per cent. The federal government is also investing RM1.5 billion in three water reservoirs, scheduled for completion by 2030. Dzulkefly further raised concerns over deforestation and land clearing for large-scale data centre campuses. He alleged that some centres occupy up to 138 acres (15.37ha), potentially threatening water catchment areas and biodiversity. He added that 49 per cent of the electricity used by data centres comes from coal-fired power plants, significantly contributing to carbon emissions. Meanwhile, Johor Investment, Trade and Consumer Affairs committee chairman Lee Ting Han said the state government had stepped up regulatory oversight on data centre projects with the establishment of the Data Centre Development Coordination Committee in June last year. He said the committee aims to ensure sustainable growth in the booming digital infrastructure sector. "Every application for data centre development is now subject to a multi-agency vetting process, requiring confirmation of power supply from Tenaga Nasional Behd (TNB), water supply from Ranhill SAJ, and right-of-way (ROW) clearances for infrastructure works. "Beyond basic utilities, we are also enforcing evaluations based on Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) to uphold international sustainability standards," Lee told the New Straits Times when contacted. He said the updated regulations also include increased scrutiny of the environmental footprint of energy-intensive data centres, particularly in high-demand zones like Johor. At the federal level, the Data Centre Task Force (DCTF) — co-chaired by the Investment, Trade and Industry and Digital Ministries — was set up to align national policy with sustainable data infrastructure growth. The task force is also expected to streamline coordination and attract high-value investments linked to artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. "Data centres are vital to Malaysia's aspirations to become a regional digital hub. "We are ensuring Johor's rapid economic development does not come at the expense of its environment," Lee said. He said the state's strategic oversight model, anchored on sustainability and federal cooperation, positions Johor as a model for balanced, data-driven development under the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint.
Free Malaysia Today
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
State polls not until 2027, says Johor MB
Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said politicians should work together to foster cooperation. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi today maintained that the state election would not be held ahead of schedule. 'This is not an election season,' he said in a Berita Harian report. 'The administration's term only ends in April 2027, so as decreed by Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, our focus must be on developing the state. 'Let us find common ground to foster cooperation, not division,' he said at the Johor state assembly. Last week, Johor Amanah called on Umno to clarify whether it would cooperate with Pakatan Harapan or contest independently in the state election to come. Deputy Johor Amanah chief Dzulkefly Ahmad said that since Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) seemed unwilling to negotiate over seat allocations, PH might consider going solo at the state polls. The 2022 Johor state election saw BN win a two-thirds majority by capturing 40 out of 56 state assembly seats. PH clinched 12 seats while Perikatan Nasional claimed three and Muda won one.
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
58 Amanah members sacked for joining polls of other parties
Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil hoped this would serve as a reminder to all Amanah members to comply with party discipline. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Amanah has sacked 58 party members this year for taking part in the internal elections of other political parties, says secretary-general Faiz Fadzil. Faiz said these members had registered as members of other political parties, adding that such actions can be punished with the termination of their Amanah membership under the party's constitution. Besides the 58 who were sacked, he said 51 others have been issued show-cause letters on suspicion of being involved in the elections of other parties. 'Their failure to respond to the letter can lead to their sacking. Amanah hopes that these actions will serve as a strict reminder to all Amanah members to comply with party discipline,' he said in a statement. He did not disclose the parties that the now-former Amanah members had defected to. Earlier this month, PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh said 28 party members had been expelled after it was confirmed they were members of other parties. This included three recently elected leaders.
Free Malaysia Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Amanah warns its members not to interfere in PKR polls
Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil said PKR's election is an internal matter for the party to handle. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Amanah has reminded its members and leadership not to interfere in PKR's internal party elections by making any statements showing bias towards any side on media platforms or in public discourse. Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil said that PKR's election is an internal matter for the party to handle and Amanah members must respect it as part of a democratic process. 'All Amanah members must avoid making any comments or expressing opinions on any media platform or public forum regarding the election process … especially comments that show support for any candidate,' he said in a statement. 'This is in order to maintain the unity that has long existed between Amanah and PKR,' he said in a statement. The PKR central leadership election on May 23 will see a contest between two deputy presidential candidates, Rafizi Ramli and Nurul Izzah Anwar. Anwar Ibrahim will remain PKR president as he is unchallenged. The election is receiving significant media attention as it is the first to take place while PKR is leading the unity government.
Daily Express
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Amanah targets Tanjung Aru, Karambunai, Lumadan, and Sulabayan
Published on: Saturday, May 17, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 17, 2025 Text Size: Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) plans to contest four Sabah State Legislative Assembly seats in the upcoming 17th State Election , targeting Tanjung Aru, Karambunai, Lumadan, and Sulabayan. According to its National Election Director, Mohd Sani Hamzan, the seats are located in the Putatan, Sepanggar, Sipitang, and Semporna parliamentary constituencies. Advertisement Sani noted that the final decision would depend on negotiations with Pakatan Harapan and other coalition partners. He emphasized that these four seats are the party's main focus. State Amanah Chairman Lahirul Latigu meanwhile added that discussions with PH have been 70 to 80pc completed. "Further talks are planned after PKR's elections. Amanah is also set to engage with Barisan Nasional following the Unity Government's recent announcement. "Amanah's membership in Sabah has grown to 18 districts, and we aim to continue expanding," he told a press conference today. Advertisement Despite not securing any seats in the previous elections, they are hopeful about their prospects in the upcoming election under the PH-led coalition. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
