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New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Data centre 2.0 transition key towards sustainable digital sector: MIDA
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's shift towards Data Centre 2.0 is a crucial step in building a strong foundation for the country's digital sector growth, said Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid He said data centres are going through a generational shift, transitioning towards generative artificial intelligence (AI), quantum breakthroughs and large-scale automation. "Recent global shifts – such as the United States (US) Department of Commerce's recalibration on AI division rules – signal a deeper understanding that digital leadership cannot be siloed or reactive. It must be strategic, collaborative and bold. "For Malaysia, this is a call to action. We must continue to lead with agility, vision and policy for data centre development," he said in his keynote address at the Bursa Malaysia-Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd (HLIB) Stratum Focus Series titled 'Data Centre 2.0: The Ecosystem and What's Next for Malaysia?', here today. Sikh Shamsul also said Malaysia's digital ecosystem recorded RM89.8 billion in total approved investments in the first quarter of this year, a 3.7 per cent increase year-on-year, with RM35.1 billion channelled into the information and communication sub-sector. "From 2021 to March this year, the Digital Investment Office (DIO), a joint initiative by MIDA and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), has facilitated RM310.7 billion in digital investments. "We have surpassed our national target of RM130 billion, well ahead of schedule, and generated more than 92,000 new jobs, many in frontier domains like cloud engineering, AI operations and cybersecurity," he said. Meanwhile, HLIB group managing director and CEO Lee Jim Leng said the global AI revolution is transforming every industry, and data centres are the very backbone of this new era. However, she noted that the transformation is unfolding against a backdrop of geopolitical tension, especially with the recently imposed restrictions by the US on advanced AI chip exports, which have sent shockwaves through the global technology supply chain. "While Malaysia is not a direct target of these chip restrictions, we are a key node in a deeply interconnected global economy. But, against this global challenge lies Malaysia's defining moment and opportunities. "The transition to Data Centre 2.0 is both a test and a tremendous opportunity. By leveraging our strategic advantages, fostering innovation, and strengthening our partnerships, we will be able to navigate global uncertainties and firmly establish Malaysia as ASEAN's leading data centre hub," she said.
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia must strengthen role as strategic AI, data hub, says HLIB
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must reinforce its position as a neutral, stable, and indispensable hub for data and artificial intelligence (AI) development to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving digital economy, said Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd (HLIB) chief executive officer Lee Jim Leng. Lee said this goal demands bold, future-ready policies that not only catalyse homegrown AI innovation and uphold data sovereignty, but also accelerate the development of energy-efficient, sustainable data centre infrastructure, critical components of any advanced digital ecosystem. Lee added that deeper collaboration between the government, industry players, and academia will be crucial to ensuring Malaysia builds long-term competitiveness in high-performance digital infrastructure. "Malaysia is entering the era of Data Centre 2.0, a phase where the focus moves beyond basic co-location services to advanced, high-performance computing infrastructure that supports AI workloads, green innovation, and data sovereignty. "With RM6.7 billion in approved investments and another RM3.9 billion currently in advanced hyperscale discussions, Malaysia is no longer a peripheral player in the region. "Malaysia should now be positioning itself as a key digital infrastructure hub," she said at the Bursa Malaysia–HLIB Stratum Focus Series, themed "Data Centre 2.0: The Ecosystem and What's Next for Malaysia?" held here today. Lee noted that the global AI revolution is transforming every industry, and data centres are the backbone of this new digital era. However, she cautioned that this transformation is unfolding amid growing geopolitical tensions, particularly the recent US restrictions on exports of advanced AI chips, which have sent shockwaves through the global technology supply chain. "While Malaysia is not a direct target of these restrictions, we remain a vital node in an interconnected global economy. "Any disruption to the supply of high-performance chips from giants like NVIDIA and AMD will directly affect the cloud providers, hyperscalers, and enterprises that are powering our digital future," she said. Despite these global challenges, Lee believes Malaysia has a real opportunity to solidify its position. She said this shift is backed by data reflecting rising investor confidence and market interest. She pointed out that the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) has already approved RM6.7 billion in data centre investments. While that figure is impressive, she said the additional RM3.9 billion currently under advanced discussion signals the massive opportunities still ahead. "This domestic boom is also further validated by our growing presence on the regional stage. "According to global real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), Malaysia now attracts 38 per cent of all new data centre investments across the Asean region. "Even more notably, JLL projects that our market share could surpass 40 per cent by next year. "This isn't just growth. It marks a consolidation of our role as the destination of choice for digital infrastructure investment. "The momentum is clear, with RM2 billion worth of data centre construction contracts already awarded this year, proving that these multi-billion-ringgit commitments are moving quickly from blueprints to physical infrastructure," she said. Furthermore, Lee said global tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and AWS are not only investing in Malaysia — they are doubling down, recognising the country's immense potential as a regional data powerhouse. She noted that demand for data centres continues to rise, fuelled by the rapid expansion of AI and cloud computing. Overall, Lee said the transition to Data Centre 2.0 presents both a challenge and an opportunity, but with the right strategies, Malaysia can turn global uncertainty into a national advantage and cement its leadership as Asean's digital infrastructure hub.
