PETALING JAYA: A proposed Digital Infrastructure Bill to regulate data centres and strengthen their ability to withstand disruptions is in its final drafting study, with the Government targeting to table it in Parliament next year.
The Digital Ministry said the proposed legislation would establish a comprehensive regulatory framework covering data centre protection, operational resilience and governance as Malaysia becomes increasingly reliant on digital services.
The ministry said the framework would adopt an all-hazards approach, covering cybersecurity threats, system failures, operational disruptions, natural disasters, physical risks and supply chain vulnerabilities.
It would also place emphasis on disaster recovery, business continuity and preparedness to minimise the impact of disruptions on the national economy.
“The Government is of the view that a specific legal framework is necessary to strengthen security, operational resilience and service continuity,” the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply on Friday (Nov 13).
The ministry was responding to Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi), who asked about its plans and timeline for introducing legislation to strengthen the security and resilience of digital infrastructure, particularly in disaster recovery and service continuity.
“The proposed Bill was currently at the final stage of its drafting study, with policy and legal coordination to be completed before it was presented for consideration and debate in Parliament in 2027, subject to the Government's approval,” they said.
Following its approval and enforcement, the ministry would coordinate the implementation of the regulatory framework to ensure compliance with the prescribed security, resilience and operational continuity standards.
The ministry said the importance of digital infrastructure, particularly data centres, was reflected in the contribution of the information and communications technology (ICT) and e-commerce sectors, which accounted for 23.5% of Malaysia's gross domestic product in 2025.
“Approved digital investments also reached RM385.71bil between 2021 and June 2026,” they added.
