GELANG PATAH: Johor will ensure that domestic consumers will not experience water supply disruptions as more data centre providers plan to set up operations in the state, says Lee Ting Han.
The state investment, trade and consumer affairs committee chairman said the Johor Data Centre Coordinating Committee (JDCCC) has been established to address the matter.
“The committee will introduce guidelines on the usage of water and power by the data centres,” he told reporters on Thursday (Aug 15).
Lee made this announcement at the Invest Johor 2024 event organised by the Johor government and RHB Banking Group at a hotel in Forest City.
He explained that the guidelines will focus on the efficiency of water and power usage by the data centres and will impose several conditions.
This includes rainwater harvesting, green technology, renewable energy, and new technologies to save water and energy by the data centres.
“We are aware that these data centres consume large amounts of water and energy, but we will ensure our domestic water users do not face interrupted utility supplies,” he said.
Lee added that eight data centres have been operating in Johor since 2022, with 10 more in development stages. He expects more data centre providers to invest until 2028.
Separately, Lee said that many foreign companies have shown strong interest in the state, especially with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) set to be signed between Malaysia and Singapore by year-end.
He noted that Johor is currently in discussions with 15 to 20 foreign investors in sectors such as healthcare, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, and energy to invest in the JS-SEZ.
“They are waiting for us (Malaysia and Singapore) to finalise the JS-SEZ agreement, which is just a few months away, to realise their investments,” said Lee.
He added that Johor aims to take advantage of the ongoing trade war between the two superpowers to attract investors looking for a neutral location to relocate or set up their operations.
“We have the right ecosystem to attract them, and Johor’s strategic location makes the state a preferred investment destination in the region,” said Lee.
