KUCHING: Sarawak has confirmed that part of a planned US$50bil (RM204.3bil) investment by a global technology company will be within its borders.
Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said the investor was proposing to invest in artificial intelligence and data centres in the state.
"I can't name the investor yet because it's an international company, but it is true that it plans to invest in Sarawak," he told reporters after opening the Sarawak Urban Forum 2.0 here on Monday (Oct 26).
Abang Johari said the investment was likely to be located in Tanjung Embang, near here, which the state plans to develop into a high-tech, low-carbon hub with an AI campus.
The proposed new Kuching International Airport and related aviation facilities are also planned for Tanjung Embang.
Last Saturday (Oct 24), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim disclosed that the global investor had chosen Kuching and Peninsular Malaysia for a US$50bil investment, one of the largest in the region.
He said the investor conveyed this during a recent video conference, adding that the proposed investment would involve AI, new technology and data centres.
In his speech earlier, Abang Johari described the investor as one of the world's leading technology companies.
"The company is coming to Kuching because they know that we are forward-looking and transitioning to the new economy," he said.
Separately, Abang Johari said Sarawak was maintaining its policy of not accepting Rohingya refugees due to concerns over social disruption.
He said the state government had previously turned down a request from the federal government to place the refugees in Serian.
"We will use our immigration powers when it comes to people entering without any purpose.
"For those coming for economic reasons or as foreign workers, it is regulated," he said.
