PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has the stability, talent and ambition to become a leading digital powerhouse in Southeast Asia, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Welcoming Google's additional US$15bil (RM60.96bil) investment in Malaysia over the next two years, the Prime Minister said foreign direct investment (FDI) was crucial to the country's economic growth.
He said such investments would not only drive economic expansion but also strengthen Malaysia's position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) industry.
"They build cutting-edge physical assets, sovereign confidence in global markets, and anchor our position at the forefront of the global artificial intelligence revolution," he said in his keynote address at the Mantap Malaysia Bersama AI programme at Universiti Malaya on Wednesday (Nov 4).
Anwar said the full benefits of FDI must extend beyond economic growth to developing globally competitive Malaysian industries, strengthening human capital and ensuring responsible use of energy and natural resources.
He said these priorities were in line with the Madani Economy framework and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030.
"This is where Google's blueprint sets a compact standard for all investors," he said.
Anwar said successful investments should deliver lasting benefits, including contributions to Malaysia's gross domestic product and employment opportunities, even during the construction phase.
"We do not measure success by headlines alone, but by whether our brightest young talents can earn what they truly deserve and work with their heads held high on the global stage," he said.
He also welcomed Google's collaboration with more than 80 Malaysian companies and organisations across sectors including civil engineering, power systems, high-specification network infrastructure and logistics.
Anwar said the partnerships demonstrated the capabilities of local companies and their ability to compete internationally.
"It is not out of obligation, but because Malaysian companies are competent, disciplined, and competitive on world-class terms.
"This partnership proves that when foreign capital meets global capability, our local firms do not just participate. They sharpen their edge and prepare to compete globally," he said.
Anwar also stressed that technological progress must benefit all Malaysians rather than only a privileged few.
"Technology is not an end. It is an instrument to unlock our human potential.
"We do not want an AI divide where only an elite few in boardrooms or tech labs thrive while the rest of the nation looks on as spectators," he said.
He said Google's pledge to upskill 800,000 Malaysians was in line with the government's efforts to ensure that technological advancements created opportunities for all segments of society.
On the environmental impact of digital infrastructure, Anwar said Google was working with Tenaga Nasional Bhd to add more than one gigawatt of new clean energy capacity to the national grid.
He said the company would also pay for its electricity needs without relying on public subsidies, ensuring that its operations would not compete with Malaysian households for energy resources.
Anwar said Google had also committed to replenishing more freshwater than its operations consumed.
As part of its water management initiatives, the company plans to build an off-river storage reservoir and a water treatment plant capable of supplying 65 million litres of potable water daily.
He said the facilities would help mitigate flood risks during the monsoon season, secure water reserves during dry periods and improve access to clean water for local communities.
"And upon completion, ownership will be handed over directly to the state government as a permanent public asset," he said.
