KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 4,053 jobs are expected to be created through 27 approved data centre projects in Malaysia, with Malaysians projected to fill nearly 90% of high-skilled positions, says Gobind Singh Deo.
The Digital Minister said 3,523 positions would involve high-skilled roles, including electrical and mechanical engineering, networking, cybersecurity, as well as data centre operations and maintenance.
Of these, he said 89.21% are expected to be filled by Malaysians.
Gobind said the 27 projects, approved under the Data Centre Task Force (DCTF), would also be required to meet a minimum 30% local content requirement to ensure that investments benefit domestic businesses.
"The local content requirement is intended to expand the participation of Malaysian companies in the supply chain, including engineering services, maintenance, networking and technology solutions," he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2027 for the Digital Ministry in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 28).
He said data centre operators were also encouraged to introduce local supplier development programmes to facilitate technology transfers and strengthen the capabilities of domestic companies to participate in the industry's value chain.
Gobind also said the rapid development of data centres must take into account the availability, efficiency and sustainability of energy and water resources without compromising the needs of existing consumers.
He said close coordination between ministries and relevant agencies, including the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry and the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES), was crucial to ensuring sustainable industry growth.
"The DCTF will continue coordinating monitoring efforts with relevant technical agencies to ensure that every project complies with its approval conditions, particularly in terms of adequate energy and water supply and resource efficiency.
"The development of the data centre industry must be carried out responsibly and sustainably, taking into account the country's resource capacity, public interests and the well-being of the people," he said.
Gobind added that the industry's success should not be measured solely by the value of investments attracted, but also by its contribution to the national economy without compromising the needs and interests of Malaysians.
