GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia has drawn RM16.2bil in total approved investments since January under the Malaysia Digital (MD) initiative, says Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo (pic).
He said the strong investment momentum is expected to create about 6,500 jobs and strengthen Malaysia’s position as a regional digital leader.
“These new opportunities are set to provide more gainful employment for Malaysians while nurturing a new generation of innovators and digital talent to drive our nation’s future growth.
“Malaysia’s digital economy agenda is focused on building a vibrant ecosystem that enables businesses to thrive, empowers communities through technology and ensures that the benefits of digitalisation are felt across all layers of society,” he said in his speech during the MD Open Day here yesterday.
Gobind said the surge in digital investments was spearheaded by high-impact sectors such as data centres and cloud services, which contribute RM9.9bil or over 60% of the total approved investments.
He said from an innovation perspective, artificial intelligence (Al) companies represent the largest share of new MD-status companies at 27%, followed by data centres (23%) and global business services (11.5%).
Backed by investor confidence from key global markets including the Netherlands, Singapore, Hong Kong, India and the United Kingdom, Gobind said Malaysia has remained well-positioned as a digital gateway for the region.
“These achievements reaffirmed Malaysia’s appeal as a leading digital investment destination and, more importantly, reflected the real-world impact that we are driving across our economy and workforce,” he said.
Looking ahead, he said the ministry is preparing to host, among others, the Malaysia Al Summit 2025 – a landmark event that will bring together policymakers, researchers and global tech leaders to shape the future of Al in South-East Asia.
He said Malaysia would also host Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025, a flagship event that will showcase innovative urban solutions as well as foster collaboration among Asean countries.
“With this series of international and regional events, Malaysia is poised to become the regional tech hub for digital innovation, supporting digital transformation and driving sustainable urban development,” he said.
As part of Malaysia’s broader digital investment landscape, Gobind said Penang has attracted RM1.23bil in approved digital investments to date this year, with 266 jobs expected to be created.
“While 93% of these investments are driven by the data centre segment, more than 60% of the jobs will come from high-value sectors such as integrated circuit design and embedded software,” he said.
The MD Open Day 2025 serves as a dedicated platform for engagement between MD-status companies, investors, government agencies and key stakeholders within Malaysia’s digital economy ecosystem.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, the MD Open Day showcased key initiatives, fostered public-private partnerships and enabled meaningful dialogue on talent development, innovation and digital adoption.
The event also marked the launch of the Digital Ministry’s northern regional office, reinforcing the government’s commitment to regional empowerment and nationwide alignment.
