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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.
Daily Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Amanah eyes 4 Sabah seats
Published on: Sunday, May 18, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 18, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Mohd Sani (seated, middle) and Lahirul (seated, left) at the press conference. Kota Kinabalu: Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) intends to contest in four state seats in the coming 17th Sabah Election (PRN17). The party's national election director, Mohd Sani Hamzan, said the seats are Tanjung Aru, Karambunai, Lumadan and Sulabayan, which fall under the parliamentary constituencies of Putatan, Sepanggar, Sipitang, and Semporna, respectively. Advertisement 'But the final decision will depend on negotiations with the Pakatan Harapan leadership and our coalition partners. 'Nevertheless, these four are the seats we hope to contest in PRN17,' he told a press conference Saturday after launching the Sabah Amanah election machinery, Saturday. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
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
New Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Political differences should not break bonds, says Mohamad Sabu
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu displayed political goodwill during a visit to former Pas leader Datuk Mustaffa Ali at his residence in Terengganu. The Parti Amanah Negara president urged political party members, especially the youth, to practise moderation in their differences and not let disagreements sever bonds of brotherhood. "I took the opportunity to visit my old friend, Mustaffa Ali, at his home in Kuala Ibai, Terengganu. "There are so many memories with him from our younger days that I still cherish to this day. He was the longest-serving chief of the Pas Youth Wing, from 1975 to 1987, and I was one of his committee members. "Although we are now in different political camps, our relationship remains strong. Despite his declining health, he still remembers many events we shared, especially during the early days of establishing Unit Amal," he said in a Facebook post. Mohamad, who is also the Agriculture and Food Security Minister, recalled a time when Mustaffa sent him and several colleagues to Iran to gain experience following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. "Although we were filled with youthful zeal at the time, when Hari Raya came, we agreed to return to Malaysia. Our delicate Malay souls could not bear the sorrow of being away from home during the festive season," he said. He added that differing viewpoints, if managed wisely, should serve as a catalyst for generating ideas to build a better and more prosperous nation for all.
