KUALA LUMPUR: Johor is expected to host 60 per cent of Malaysia’s total data centre capacity by 2030, cementing its role as the digital hub for Southeast Asia, said the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the transformation would be accelerated by the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
"The JS-SEZ has sped up our pace, scaled up our talent attraction initiative and strengthened our supply chain connections within ASEAN and beyond.
"Johor is no longer just keeping up; it is setting the pace for digital ambition in the region,” he said in his keynote address at the DayOne Syndicated Financing and Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme signing ceremony today.
DayOne Data Centres has completed its RM15 billion equivalent multi-currency financing, comprising a RM7.5 billion Murabahah Term Financing facility and a US$1.7 billion Offshore Term Loan facility.
Tengku Zafrul witnessed the signing ceremony for the landmark syndication.
CIMB, Crédit Agricole, DBS, Maybank, OCBC, Standard Chartered, and UOB have been appointed as the joint coordinators for one of Asia’s largest data centre financing transactions, which is supporting DayOne’s major data centre development in the JS-SEZ.
Tengku Zafrul highlighted that in the first three months of 2025, Johor attracted over RM30 billion in investments, with nearly 90 per cent flowing into digital infrastructure.
"This is tangible proof that investors are clear about our policies. Besides, we are attracting the right capital and our vision for Johor as Malaysia’s gateway is fast becoming a reality,” he said.
Tengku Zafrul said that as ASEAN Chair for 2025, Malaysia is also actively driving the adoption of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
"Malaysia’s digital economy is expected to contribute over 25 per cent of the national gross domestic product (GDP) this year.
"By 2030, digital investments will catalyse nearly RM400 billion in cumulative GDP, which generates the resources to support everything from AI research to e-health, as well as improved e-services, digital banking and e-commerce,” he said.
Regarding the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS), DayOne has also secured up to 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (RE) with Tenaga Nasional Bhd
(TNB).
Tengku Zafrul said CRESS allowed hyperscale data centres and big energy users to buy RE directly from producers, such as TNB.
He said TNB’s market-driven solution will get Malaysia to the 70 per cent RE target in the energy generation mix by 2050.
"CRESS, our national guidelines, our NIMP-driven renewable targets, and transparent reporting standards are shaping Malaysia into not just a hub for digital investment but also the benchmark for responsible growth in ASEAN,” he added. - Bernama
