The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) aims to attract RM300 billion worth of green investments by 2030 to achieve Malaysia’s net zero emission commitments.

MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said Malaysia achieved realised green investments of about RM40 billion between 2017 and 2023.

“In the Green Investment Strategy (GIS), we plan to increase it to RM300 billion up to 2030. That is a very aggressive target but that is the target we need to achieve.

“This is a 7.5 times increase that we need, and this is in line with the National Energy Transition Roadmap, which aims to achieve RM300 billion over the next decade so that we can achieve net zero carbon emission by 2050,” he told a Green Investment Strategy media conference here today.

According to him, the Green Investment Strategy was designed, taking into account various key policies to ensure a holistic, complementary approach with no overlapping.

It complements the country’s long-term policies such as the 12th Malaysia Plan and MADANI Economic framework, setting the direction for an inclusive and sustainable economic development.

As for Budget 2025, Tengku Zafrul said local companies need Finance Ministry incentives to make that transition into green energy.

For example, factories that lack efficiency will result in more carbon emissions. They need to invest in newer technology to improve efficiency.

“ That is an investment cost. If possible, we want to look into how local companies and small and medium enterprises benefit from the incentives or lower funding to make that transition,” he added.

In terms of socio-economic growth, Tengku Zafrul said the Green Investment Strategy is expected to contribute RM80 billion to the gross development product (GDP) and create 350,000 high-skilled jobs by 2030.

Zafrul also said MITI will work with Bank Negara Malaysia to expand the criteria and scope of green financing.

“We want to enlarge the criteria as well as financing scope to make it more inclusive, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises who faced challenges meeting financing conditions,“ he added.

Source: Bernama

MITI aims to attract RM300b of green investments by 2030

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants all parties to support and play a role in achieving Malaysia’s aspirations to be among the top 20 countries in terms of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

For that purpose, he wants researchers, developers and decision-makers to work together to develop and adopt AI-related technology responsibly and ethically.

“We (the government) have agreed to help build the national AI ecosystem, especially in terms of having a centre of excellence to facilitate AI learning and research, including creating Malaysia’s very own AI cloud computing system.

“At the same time, I also want to stress that human values, data protection and the responsible use of technology are all affected and given a new meaning by this technology,” he said in his opening speech at the International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Computing, Engineering and Education Science (InvENT 2024) at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam here today.

His speech text was read out by Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.

Anwar said that despite helping to improve the quality of life, efficiency and creativity of humans, the modern and dynamic Generative AI technology also has a dark side that society needs to be aware of.

The Prime Minister said deep fake technology, for example, is capable of eroding trust in digital reality and fundamentally changing the public’s perception of reality, threatening the integrity of information and causing confusion.

As such, he said the government’s general approach is to minimise risk by identifying the risks associated with the impact of AI on society and people’s lives.

“However, at the same time, we also need policies and laws to avoid the issue of leakage in AI governance,” he said.

In his speech, Anwar also touched on the regulatory aspects where Malaysia is now actively involved in forming digital economy cooperation at the ASEAN level, including the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) in addition to the Cyber Security Bill 2024 tabled last March.

He said the Personal Data Protection Department is also in the final stage of formulating the bill to amend the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 [Act 709] in addition to the national data sharing bill, which is being formulated by the National Digital Department.

Source: Bernama

PM Anwar calls on all parties to support Malaysia’s aspiration to be top 20 AI nation

The rapid growth of data centres, particularly in the Klang Valley and Johor, is ramping up job opportunities and production as Malaysia aims to emerge as South-East Asia’s main data centre hub.

As the country is set to rake in RM3.6bil in revenue from the data centre industry next year – an increase from the RM2.09bil in 2022 – specialised jobs in engineering and management are expected to flourish.

In a recent interview, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) chief executive officer Mahadhir Aziz said the growth of data centres in Malaysia is poised to generate significant indirect job opportunities across various sectors, including manufacturing, construction and logistics.

He said data centres are fundamentally engineering-driven enterprises, with a wide range of engineering roles required during various phases, such as design, planning, site acquisition and construction.

“These roles span across civil, electrical, cooling, mechanical, fire mitigation, and physical security engineering.

“During the operational phase, additional roles will emerge in facilities and data centre management and operations to ensure smooth, sustainable operations and to address any potential issues that arise,” he added.

Mahadhir said the growing demand for the materials, components and technology required for data centre construction and maintenance would also boost the local manufacturing industry.

In recent years, several global tech giants like Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft have mooted plans to develop cloud computing infrastructure in Malaysia, with AWS looking into a long-term investment of up to US$6bil (RM26.6bil) up to the year 2037.

Earlier this month, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said RM76bil worth of data centre-related investments had been approved by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry via the Malaysian Investment Development Authority from 2021 to March 2024.

She said the country was seeing more industry players investing in the digital economy and data centre operations.

Meanwhile, Mahadhir said data centres would also require non-technical roles in human resources, finance and project management, as well as environment, health, and safety.

“As businesses, data centres also necessitate the usual senior management roles, client services, customer training, sales and marketing, public policy, corporate affairs, and more.”

In anticipating future demand for skilled labour for data centre and related manufacturing sectors, Malaysia’s education and vocational training institutions also have a critical role to play, he said.

Collaboration with industry players is also essential to ensuring that curricula are not only up to date with industrial demand but also anticipate future trends.

“This alignment will create a talent pipeline that is well prepared to support the rapid expansion of the data centre sector,” said Mahadhir.

Source: The Star

Data hubs to bring change

Ai pioneer Sam altman’s firm in four-party tech tie-up in Malaysia

Malaysia’s digital economy is expected to be strengthened with a four-party tie-up that includes a company started by artificial intelligence (AI) pioneer Sam Altman.

The four are MYEG Services Bhd, a provider of digital government services in Malaysia; Mimos Bhd, the national applied research and development (R&D) centre; the Worldcoin Foundation; as well as Tools for Humanity (TFH), a technology company co-founded in 2019 by Altman, Alex Blania and Max Novendstern.

TFH has a stated commitment to equitable economic systems and social inclusiveness, while the Worldcoin Foundation’s vision is to realise more inclusive and just institutions of governance and of the global digital economy.

MYEG said this strategic alliance is expected to revolutionise Malaysia’s blockchain infrastructure and digital ecosystem by fast-tracking the adoption of blockchain technology on a national scale following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in October 2022 between MYEG and Mimos.

“The partnership synergises Mimos’ prowess in research and development of information and communications technology (ICT) with MYEG’S advanced Zetrix blockchain platform, heralding a new era of digital transaction and service delivery.

“Through this joint effort, the blockchain infrastructure is anticipated to evolve with state-of-theart credential verification technology.

“This move stands to democratise the digital economy by infusing Mimos’ R&D ingenuity and the Worldcoin Foundation’s extensive blockchain acumen into Malaysia’s socioeconomic fabric,” it said yesterday.

According to MYEG, TFH will help ensure a more just economic system and will bring its wealth of experience in developing digital solutions for marginalised populations.

“It will work closely with Mimos and the Worldcoin Foundation to create innovative tools and platforms that address critical societal issues such as education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability,” it added.

MYEG also said it will work to incorporate the solutions developed by Mimos, Worldcoin, and TFH into existing government service delivery systems to ensure that citizens can access these services conveniently and securely.

“This collaboration is set to significantly impact Malaysia’s digital economy. It will enhance the security and efficiency of digital transactions, building trust in online platforms and motivating businesses to embrace digital transformation.

“This, in turn, will drive innovation, create jobs, and fuel economic growth.

“Furthermore, the collaboration will support the development of a skilled workforce in digital technology. Through training programmes and educational initiatives, the partners in this alliance will equip Malaysians with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the digital age,” it added.

Source: The Star

Digital economy to get a boost

DATA centres are critical infrastructure in the development of an ecosystem for the digital economy and their spinoff effects are huge, says Minister of Digital Gobind Singh Deo.

In an interview with The Edge, he says many of the solutions needed today — whether by governments or companies — are based on artificial intelligence (AI), which requires a lot of data centre capacity.

“For example, if you want AI, it runs on data. GenAI runs on data, right? We’ve got new technology that will be created in years to come. So, at the end of the day, it’s a question of making sure you have that infrastructure within your jurisdiction that you can use, and it will support the economy around you,” Gobind explains.

On the investments that have flowed into Malaysia recently, Gobind says the huge jump was fuelled by the country’s focus on getting digital investments, including in data centres and cloud computing.

Malaysia recorded a 23% year-on-year jump in approved investments to RM329.5 billion in 2023. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the surge in investments was in line with the rapid growth of the digital economy.

The digital economy contributed about 23% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) from 2021 to 2023. The target now is to increase the contribution to 25.5% by 2025.

Malaysia’s focus on data centres has received some criticism as the investments do not seem to be adding much value to the economy despite the amount that has flowed in. That is because data centres are essentially conduits of the flow of data, rather than an economic activity that provides high-income jobs or generates a lot of revenue for the country.

“You’ve got to think about the bigger picture … you’ve got ministries that are looking at problems that they have today and solutions that they want to put in place. The solutions are AI-based,” says Gobind.

“You’ve got industries that have problems which they can overcome using AI. That again is a solution that’s AI-based. You’ve got new companies that will build up, they will start, new economies will emerge, new industries will emerge.

“The income that they are making will be a lot higher because they are now industries that are tech-based. So, the spinoff effect of this will be extra jobs because there will be new companies that will emerge using the technology.”

In Google’s Data Centre Impact Report 2023 on Loudon County, Virginia, the digital giant said it added about US$1.1 billion to the US’ GDP annually between 2017 and 2022, through direct, indirect and induced contributions. The California-based company also said that its data centre operation in Loudon County contributed about US$330 million in direct, indirect and induced contributions to labour income.

During the same time period, Google’s operations supported about 3,500 direct, indirect and induced jobs in Loudoun County, it said. The company invested US$1.8 billion in Loudon County for its data centre there in 2018 and 2019 and expanded that with an investment of US$1.2 billion in 2021.

In Malaysia, Google is investing US$2 billion in City of Elmina in Shah Alam, Selangor, for its first data centre and cloud region in Malaysia. The investment is expected to support 26,500 jobs and bring in an economic impact of RM15.04 billion.

Data centre investments have also been criticised for using up a lot of resources such as electricity and water, not to mention the land that they occupy.

On this, Gobind says the government has taken the challenges the country faces in respect of water and energy into account when it comes to promoting industries, including data centres. “The government is looking at ways and means by which we can ensure that we are able to sustain as we go ahead and there are sufficient reserves as well.”

Having said that, he believes that Malaysia does not have much of a choice when it comes to opening up for data centre investments.

“You either say yes, we can do this, and prepare the country with the right infrastructure and get it done — take the lead. Or you say no, we’re going to take a step back and let others move ahead and then perhaps when it’s a bit too late, look back and say, look, this is what we should have done,” he says.

“We have made a decision. We are going to make sure that we prepare our country for the future. And I think the prime minister is very clear on his vision for this and it is a work in progress.”

For Gobind, embracing data centre investments, apart from being an enabler for the development of the digital economy, is also about creating a “buzz” in attracting global investments.

“Now, if you don’t have that, for example, the rest, as I said, is not just about us. It’s about how we perform in Asean, how we attract global investments. If you don’t have all these, then you are not going to be able to create that buzz. That to me is crucial at this point for us to build the country economically,” he says. 

Source: The Edge Malaysia

Data centres crucial to draw investments

Japan continues to show deep interest in investing in Malaysia’s energy sector, especially in the green hydrogen sector, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said Japan has already invested in Sarawak in the same industry and that it would continue to support Malaysia in terms of investment.

In December last year, it was reported that Sarawak would be producing green hydrogen on a large scale mainly for the Japanese market under a tripartite agreement inked between the Sarawak Economic Development Corp (SEDC) and two Japanese firms. “They are asking for our support and cooperation for what they have to offer. We can’t give a final decision (at this meeting). I have to bring it back to get a decision at the government level,“ he said.

Fadillah said this to the media after attending a courtesy visit session with four countries, namely Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei and Japan, in conjunction with his visit to Peru to attend the Energy Ministers Meeting, under the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), from Aug 15-16, 2024.

He said the four countries were ready to support Malaysia’s plans.

“What’s more, next year we will be ASEAN chair. (So) the bilateral meeting we held on Thursday morning and afternoon was in that context. While at the round table session, each of the APEC countries gave their views on the topic that had been prepared, which was related to how we want to mobilise the strategies of the respective countries in relation to the energy transition, which is the supply of clean and renewable energy.

“And at the same time (in switching) to this renewable and clean energy, how we want to ensure the security of energy supply. Second, in terms of safety and third, also to ensure that no party is left behind”.

The meeting also discussed cooperation opportunities in the development of halal certification by Vietnam, the SME capacity development and investment by Singapore and the organisation of the 3rd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting by Malaysia in 2025.

Meanwhile, Fadillah also said the issue of implementing third party access (TPA) was also discussed at the meeting of energy ministers. “We will announce everything in September, in terms of the mechanism, in terms of the rules, including the costing. Many are interested in the TPA of the electricity supply industry. So we will have an industrial dialogue on Aug 22. From there we get feedback from industry players,“ he added.

The 14th APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting (EMM14) at the Lima Convention Center, hosted by Peru, brings together energy ministers from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss strategies to drive the energy transition.

Source: Bernama

Japan remains committed to invest in Malaysia’s green energy, focus on hydrogen

Malaysia is expected to attract new investments in the energy sector from Singapore and Vietnam, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the potential investments will be discussed in detail during courtesy calls with Singapore Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling, dan Vietnam Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long later on Thursday.

“I think the minister from Singapore intends to discuss extending the (renewable energy import from Malaysia) agreement, as the expiry date is near,” he said.

The deputy minister said that Malaysia is prepared to export an additional 100 megawatts (MW) of power, in the event Singapore’s energy supply deal with Laos falls through.

“I will also discuss focusing on the Asean Power Grid initiative next year with the ministers (from Singapore and Vietnam),” he told the media on Thursday, during his visit to Peru for the two-day Energy Ministers’ Meeting (EMM) under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) from Aug 15-16. 

The Asean Power Grid is a regional initiative to improve energy connectivity among Asean member countries.

The grid focuses on integrating the electricity grids of various Asean nations to enhance energy security, promote efficient energy use, and support the development of a regional electricity market.

The goal is to facilitate cross-border electricity trade and ensure a more reliable and sustainable energy supply within the region.

Fadillah said the association’s countries can assist each other with power needs, in the spirit of the Asean community, . 

“This is one of the issues I intend to discuss with our Asean partners,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fadillah also discussed possible investments in Vietnam, which has abundant wind power resources.

He said that national oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and utility company Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) are keen to invest in Vietnam’s energy sector.

“I will discuss the possibility of an undersea (power) cable from Vietnam to Kota Bahru, Kelantan. This is not only for Malaysia, but the cable can be used to supply power to Singapore and other Asean countries,” he added.

Fadillah is scheduled for courtesy calls with the Brunei’s Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II, Pehin Halbi; and Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nobuhiro Yoshida.

He will also attend the minister’s lunch hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru.

Source: Bernama

Malaysia expects to attract energy sector investments from Singapore, Vietnam — Fadillah

New York-based hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions provider International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) sees strong growth potential in Malaysia, pointing to a recent surge in technology investors and new data centres.

IBM Asean general manager Catherine Lian said the company is focused on strengthening its private partnership ecosystem while developing strategies to enhance the technology value chain in the country.

“It is interesting to see how the Malaysian government is prioritising the enhancement of the value chain in this country. We believe Malaysia is a hub of economic growth, and with the political stability, we are excited about what lies ahead in the coming year,“ Lian told Bernama following a media briefing on the sidelines of the IBM Think 2024 conference, here.

The conference explored how the future of AI is unlocking Asean’s economic potential.

Lian said IBM is particularly encouraged by the increasing number of data centres in Malaysia, which she described as evidence of “explosive growth” in the country’s technology sector.

“This really shows that the value chain of economic growth is evident. While we see a lot of investment across these technology portfolios, IBM is excited to be part of the journey to drive technology and the adoption of generative AI in these data centres.”

Lian highlighted the Malaysian government’s role in fostering economic growth and attracting foreign direct investment, noting that IBM is committed to aligning its technology solutions with these national initiatives.

Looking ahead, she said IBM will continue to advance hybrid cloud and AI solutions in partnership with its Malaysian clients.

“When we consider Malaysia’s outlook, the adoption of AI has already started across all industries. It is important that technology providers like IBM continue to drive hybrid cloud AI solutions to build the digital transformation journey with our customers and clients in Malaysia,” she added.

IBM offers global expertise in hybrid cloud, AI, and consulting, helping clients leverage data insights, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain a competitive edge. Hybrid cloud combines public cloud, private cloud and on-premises infrastructure to create a unified, flexible and cost-efficient information technology environment. 

Source: Bernama

Malaysia’s growing tech sector spurs IBM’s expansion plans

The Digital Ministry is confident of securing more digital investments in the second half of this year after the impressive performance recorded in the first half (1H).

Minister Gobind Singh Deo said Malaysia’s total digital investment hit RM66.22 billion in 1H, surpassing the RM46.2 billion achieved for the whole of 2023, supported by the MADANI government’s business-friendly policies.

These investments came with the creation of 25,498 jobs in 1H 2024, surpassing the tally of 22,258 in 2023.

“Digital is an area that is growing significantly and is attracting a lot of attention. Moving forward, we are going to see a lot more emphasis being placed in this sector,” he told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between 42 Malaysia, a peer-to-peer computer science school established by Khazanah Nasional Bhd in a joint venture with Sunway Education Group, and MyDIGITAL Corporation.

Gobind said that to spur the sector and investment in digital, the Budget 2025 wishlist to be presented to the Finance Ministry will include tax exemptions.

“The question that was raised was how can the government develop policies around incentives that will actually motivate businesses to invest, so there are certain suggestions to be put forward focused on taxation.

“I think ultimately, it comes back to how fast we can get everyone on board because if you look at the numbers, the small and medium enterprises form 97 per cent of the industries of the country. If we are able to get them on board adopting technology in their businesses, you’re going to see tremendous growth in the country’s digital economy,” he noted.

He also emphasised the need for further government and industry partnerships to hasten the national digital agenda, among others on talent creation, to support the fast-growing industry.

Gobind said tech giants such as Google, AWS, Byte Dance, Nvidia and Microsoft have committed billions of ringgit into Malaysia’s digital sector and will need a lot of skilled workers to support their operations.

The minister said MyDIGITAL and 42 Malaysia will leverage skill sets from each other to develop digital talent in Malaysia.

The planned initiatives include joint research and development, cross-border training exchange programmes, collaborative workshops and training programmes, and executive digital leadership programmes.

Source: Bernama

Digital Ministry confident of securing more digital investments in 2H 2024

Johor’s status as Malaysia’s leading data centre (DC) hub is expected to strengthen further, bolstered by substantial foreign direct investment (FDI) in the services sector.

CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd (CIMB Securities) said Johor has cemented its position as an investment magnate as it topped the FDI charts and the state’s FDI flows are expected to re-accelerate in 2024, as a stable political climate ensures policy continuity following the conclusion of the six state elections in August 2023.

According to the research firm, the services sector accounted for about 70 per cent of the total FDI received by Johor last year, while the remaining 30 per cent came from the manufacturing sector. 

By sub-sectors, the Information Communication Technology (ICT) segment was a major contributor towards the services sector, involving DC’s, cloud sharing services, software and design systems, as well as creative and digital content. 

As for the manufacturing sector, it was mainly made up of electrical and electronics products (E&E) manufacturing, chemicals, and machinery and equipment.

“Due to its close proximity, Singapore is unsurprisingly one of the main sources of FDI for Johor. 

“Given Johor’s transformative landscape, this would accentuate the demand for specialist builders of advanced technology facilities (ATF)’s, including high-tech industrial buildings, integrated logistics centres, and DC’s,” CIMB Securities said in a research note.

The firm added that a step-up in infrastructure-building is needed to augment Johor’s huge investment drive, and the state’s constructive outlook has also been galvanised by closer bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore.

Furthermore, the twin completion of the Gemas-JB Electrified Double Tracking (2025) and RTS Link (December 2026) could herald the start of more infrastructure spending to improve connectivity within Johor, it said.

It also noted that a firmer ringgit provides more fiscal leeway for the government to carry out large-scale infrastructure projects, especially for those that require machinery or inputs that are imported in US dollars. 

“Therefore, to promote greater mobility, we firmly believe that the Madani administration may accelerate the rollout of large-scale public transportation projects to complement Johor’s robust growth prospects. 

“As such, the Johor ART (autonomous rail transit) and KL-Singapore HSR (high speed rail) are the next two standout projects that could come to the fore,” CIMB Securities added.

Given that Johor’s rapid industrial drive could put a strain on the state’s natural resources, the research firm expects a greater push towards an upgrade of its utility network and related infrastructure in the months to come.

Source: NST

Johor’s data centre hub to get a boost from rising FDIs, says CIMB Research

Malaysia needs to start thinking about mandating companies, both local and foreign, to contribute a portion of their revenue to support research and development (R&D) in Malaysian universities, said Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong.

He recalled that during a visit to Brazil, he learned from Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) that Brazilian regulations require companies to contribute 1% of their revenue – not profit – to R&D in the country’s universities.

“And they (Petronas) contribute a lot of revenue (to R&D). (Therefore) whether it comes from Malaysian companies or whoever makes money out of Malaysia we have to start thinking about mandating some contributions by companies that make money in this country,” he said at the Unctad-KRI national consultation meeting on Green Industrialisation today.

Liew argued that Malaysia does not have a talent problem but the perceived talent shortage is actually a pay problem.

“Most of the time, university VCs are preoccupied by the idea that they have to train students. The national debate now is there’s a talent problem. If you pay two-thirds of Singapore pay, everyone will come back. But we are still preoccupied by this thinking that we have to train as many engineering students as possible,” he said.

“Additionally, when thinking about potential investors, we often compare ourselves to Vietnam, and investors often encourage this comparison. We are often told that Vietnam is doing this, doing that. To the extent that we continue to see ourselves just as a manufacturing base, we do not see ourselves as a location for R&D,” Liew said.

He added that as long as Malaysia continues to see itself merely as a manufacturing base, it fails to recognise its potential as a hub for R&D and high-end production.

Source: The Sun

Liew: Time to consider mandating companies to contribute to R&D in universities

The Energy Ministers’ Meeting (EMM) under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) is expected to discuss the direction, policies and cooperation for sustainable growth in the energy sector, particularly in energy transition and efforts to reduce Apec economics’ carbon footprint.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, will lead Malaysia’s delegation to the Aug 15-16 EMM, according to a statement from the ministry on Monday.

Apec 2024 chair Peru is hosting the meeting, the highest level for Apec economic leaders responsible for energy development.

Fadillah will highlight Malaysia’s stance on implementing the country’s energy transition efforts, ensuring inclusive and equitable energy transition, and its aspirations towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

This will be done via the implementation of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), Hydrogen Economy Roadmap (HETR), and the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, he said.

“This sharing and engagement on Malaysia’s progressive initiatives will likely provide a positive outlook on the country’s green investment potential to investors from the Asia-Pacific region.

“Besides promoting the nation’s sustainable growth efforts and commitments, Malaysia’s presence is expected to further strengthen the country’s image and position as a destination for clean and high-value investments,” the statement said.

Fadillah will also hold bilateral and multilateral meetings with counterparts from Apec economies and international industry players to expand cooperation networks in various energy fields, particularly those that support the country’s energy transition commitments and initiatives.

Source: Bernama

Malaysia to highlight green investment potential at Apec energy ministers’ meeting

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is currently seeking new investment opportunities in Sarawak’s renewable energy sector.

According to a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report, EPF chief executive officer Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn said Sarawak is now seen as a state with great potential, particularly in the renewable energy sector.

“The purpose of EPF’s visit here is to learn about Sarawak’s strategies, particularly regarding investment potential in the renewable energy sector, as well as understand the new strategies and policies in Sarawak,” he said after paying a courtesy call on Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.

Ahmad Zulqarnain said Sarawak also has various new investment potential in hydro and solar energy.

“Sarawak, as a centre for renewable energy in Southeast Asia, is indeed very prominent in hydro, solar and floating solar energy.

“There is a lot of potential that will require significant investment. From our perspective, we want to reach out to explore how we can participate in new investments in Sarawak,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Abang Johari also received a courtesy call from Shanghai Electric Power, led by its director Wu Lei, and the International Finance Corporation.

Source: Borneo Post

EPF eyes investment opportunities in Sarawak’s renewable energy sector

With Malaysia’s data centre industry projected to reach RM3.6bil in revenue by 2025, it’s more important than ever to prepare local industry players for the expected growth, says Teo Nie Ching.

Speaking at the Cloudtech & Data Centre 2024 Conference on Wednesday (Aug 7), the Deputy Communications Minister said strategically placing data centres in the country would accelerate the industry’s growth.

“This is due to low latency being essential for a seamless experience, especially for applications like autonomous vehicles and complex remote operations that these data centres should support.

“Even the slightest delays can have significant consequences,” she said in her speech during the conference, held at the Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre on Thursday (Aug 8).

Teo highlighted recent industry news suggesting a positive future for Malaysia’s aspirations to become a regional data centre hub.

“RM76bil worth of data centre-related investments have been approved by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry via the Malaysian Investment Development Authority from 2021 to March 2024.

“From this, we see that more industry players are investing in the digital economy, and a lot of existing data centre operators here are expanding their operations,” she told reporters after the conference.

“This is an opportunity to create more high-value jobs for Malaysians and, at the same time, to ensure our place as a digital economy leader in Asean,” she added.

Meanwhile, Shawn Suresh, an IT infrastructure chief technology officer at Basis Bay, a home-grown leading data centre and IT infrastructure provider, said the event was needed to build confidence in the industry.

“With the industry growing extremely fast, there is now a lot of misinformation and a lack of overall industry expertise.

“Conferences like this are key to inform and prepare the public and industry players for the future of the industry,” said Shawn Suresh

Shawn also called for the legislation of foreign data centre providers to protect local industry players.

“Many of them are from competing economies and countries, so we need new laws to manage not only data centres but also the flow of data out of the country; otherwise, we may run into issues in the long run,” he added.

Teoh Wooi Keat, sales director at Vertiv Malaysia, a world-leading critical digital infrastructure provider, emphasises the need for responsible and optimal resource usage in data centres.

“With modern data centres expected to be more advanced through integration of AI, energy consumption will increase accordingly.

“We must learn how to maximise economic benefit with optimal carbon footprint through sustainable data centre design.

“Through conferences like this, industry players will also learn what to expect in the next decade through exchanging information, allowing us to move forward as both an industry and a country,” he said.

Organised by the Star Media Group Bhd (SMG), the Cloudtech & Data Centre 2024 Conference gathered over 100 leading IT professionals, industry leaders and policymakers from across the region who sparked discussions on the future of the data centre industry.

SMG group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt and SMG chief business officer Lydia Wang joined Teo on stage to present her a token of appreciation after she gave her speech during the event.

The event was held thanks to silver sponsors Vertiv and Basis Bay.

Source: NST

Malaysia’s data centre industry poised for remarkable growth, says Teo Nie Ching

Malaysia’s target to achieve a revenue of RM3.6 billion by 2025 in the data centre industry is on track, judging from the positive signals by the industry players.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said this after a slew of investments involving the development of data centres entered the entry, coupled with expanding operations by existing companies.

“We can see that more people (from the data centre industry) are coming in for this digital economy investment and a lot of data centre (players) who are already here are also expanding their operations.

“Some of them have met me, like GDS IDC Services (M) Sdn Bhd, and they said they are going double their investment in Malaysia. Therefore, I believe that we are now on the right track, with the positive factors and the signals that we are receiving,” she told reporters after attending the CloudTech and Data Centre Conference 2024 here today.

It was previously reported that Malaysia aims to achieve a revenue of RM3.6 billion in the data centre industry by 2025 against RM2.09 billion in 2022.

Teo said creating an ecosystem for data centres and cloud services would also mean increasing the number of industry suppliers in the country as well.

“When we have a sufficient number of data centre players in Malaysia, which we are having now, their suppliers would also be interested in coming to Malaysia as well.

“This is an opportunity to create more high-value jobs for Malaysians, and at the same time, to ensure that Malaysia will become the leader in the digital economy in ASEAN,” she added.

Earlier, in her keynote address, Teo said Malaysia approved RM114.7 billion worth of investments in data centres and cloud services from 2021 to 2023, creating over 2,325 high-value job opportunities in specialised fields.

Furthermore, RM76 billion worth of data centre-related investments were approved by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry via the Malaysian Investment Development Authority from 2021 to March 2024.

“Google, Amazon Web Services, ByteDance Systems, Bridge Data Centres, GDS ICD and Malaysia’s YTL Data Centre made significant investments in building data centres in Malaysia, further demonstrating their confidence in our potential,” she said.

Source: Bernama

Malaysia on track to achieve RM3.6 bil revenue in data centre industry by 2025 – Teo

Cyberjaya has been identified as the next location for the expansion of the Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park, said Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) chief executive officer Yong Kai Ping.

“I’m happy to announce that we are currently exploring our ‘Park 2 @ Cyberjaya’. We hope that Cyberview will give us an advanced unit with a good ecosystem that will be able to house more engineers over here. That is our plan,” said Yong.

The newly-launched IC design park is located in Puchong.

According to Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Puchong was chosen due to its proximity to the Greater Klang Valley and its connectivity to KL International Airport, the soon-to-be-expanded Subang Airport, and its location about 30 minutes from Port Klang.

Consistent and reliable power, potential for future expansion, and ease of public transport accessibility were key factors in selecting Puchong.

For nearly three decades, Putrajaya has attempted to position Cyberjaya in Selangor as its own “Silicon Valley” as part of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) special economic zone and business district.

In April, during the KL20 Summit, Economic Minister Rafizi Ramli announced that the government would establish a new Startup Hub in the heart of the capital, around KL Sentral and Bangsar South.

The hub is part of the Innovation Belt, which aims to gather ecosystem players in geographical clusters, creating a critical mass of startups, talent, investors, corporations, and academia.

Startup founders located around KL Sentral and Bangsar South previously told Malay Mail that public transport accessibility and proximity to the KL city centre are why the area is best suited for their businesses instead of Cyberjaya.

“We hope to achieve what our prime minister has set up in the National Semiconductor Strategy, Malaysia wants to build 10 unicorn IC companies, I believe we can contribute 50 per cent of that from our IC design park,” Yong said.

Source: Malay Mail

Sidec CEO: Cyberjaya identified as the next location for IC design park

The government will announce guidelines for data centre power usage effectiveness (PUE) and water usage effectiveness (WUE) by the third quarter of the year to boost investments.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the guidelines would ensure data centres built in Malaysia meet the minimum sustainability requirements to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

“As data centres consume a lot of power and water, we want to ensure that the data centres built here (in Malaysia) meet the minimum requirements set by global institutions.

“SIRIM and the Department of Standards Malaysia are in the midst of finalising (the guidelines), and we will announce them by the third quarter this year,” he told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony for Vantage Data Centers’ second campus (KUL2) here today.

Tengku Zafrul said the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) will work closely with the Digital Ministry and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to incorporate the improvements into the data centre ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, who was also present at the groundbreaking ceremony, said the two main challenges for data centre investments are power and water.

He said that the guidelines being developed will ensure that the country has a sufficient and sustainable supply of both resources for the next five to ten years to attract more investments.

Gobind said the Digital Ministry and MITI are working together to address concerns about sufficient water and electricity supply due to significant demand from industry players.

“We need to push ahead to ensure we can develop Malaysia as the hub for data centres in this region, particularly as we move towards the country’s ASEAN 2025 chairmanship.

“We want to project Malaysia as a country with clear policies that are attractive not just to data centres but all investments in that ecosystem as well,” he said.

Vantage’s KUL2 is located adjacent to its existing campus in Cyberjaya. It will have 10 facilities across 256,000 square metres.

The US$3 billion KUL2 data centre campus will deliver 256MW of information technology (IT) capacity to meet the growing demand for hyperscale data centre services.

Source: Bernama

Guidelines to help boost data centre investments by 3Q – Tengku Zafrul

Malaysia’s digital investment soared to RM66.22 billion in the first half of this year (1H 2024), demonstrating robust growth and resilience of the digital economy despite global geopolitical tensions.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said this was a significant achievement, noting that the amount has already surpassed the full-year digital investment for 2023 which stood at RM46.2 billion.

He attributed the strong upward trajectory to stronger investor confidence and the economy’s forecasted growth of 4.0-5.0 per cent this year.

“This investment inflow created 25,498 jobs in 1H 2024, surpassing the 22,258 tally recorded in 2023. The digital sector continues to be a powerhouse for high-skilled, high-income employment,“ he said in a statement today.

As for digital exports, Gobind said the ministry’s efforts via the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation’s (MDEC) partnerships and business matching programmes generated export opportunities worth over RM1.93 billion.

These involve 228 companies from 11 countries, namely Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Türkiye, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Taiwan, Kenya, Tanzania and the United Kingdom.

This represents an increase of over 43 per cent from the export opportunities worth RM1.35 billion generated in 1H 2023, he said.

Gobind said MDEC’s DEX Connex initiatives in the Philippines and Indonesia as well as business missions have significantly contributed to the export opportunities in the first half of 2024.

“It is worth noting that data centres and cloud companies collectively contributed the lion’s share of digital investment value across all sectors.

“Information Technology (Infotech) and Global Business Services (GBS) companies took the lead in digital job creation, as they race to set up their centres of excellence and high-value GBS operations in Malaysia,“ he said.

He added that 451 tech companies have been awarded the Malaysia Digital (MD) Status in 1H 2024 (2023: 256 companies).

“Of these, 39 per cent are foreign companies contributing to foreign direct investments, while 61 per cent are local companies,“ he said.

Gobind said companies with MD Status are entitled to many incentives, rights and privileges from the government, subject to necessary approvals and compliance with applicable conditions.

The benefits include competitive tax incentives and duty import and sales tax exemption on the importation of multimedia equipment, access to local and foreign knowledge workers, exemption from local ownership requirements, and access to funding facilitation.

Source: Bernama

Malaysia’s digital investment soars to RM66.22b in 1H 2024

THE first phase of the new data centre campus, jointly developed by Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) and Singapore’s Nxera, is expected to be completed in 2026 to add to the high-quality digital infrastructure in Malaysia, says Gobind Singh Deo.

The Digital Minister said he was glad to see TM and Nxera, the regional data centre arm of Singtel’s Digital InfraCo unit, joining forces to embark on the data centre venture.

“This win-win and timely partnership brings together the best connectivity providers of Malaysia and Singapore to develop data centres in Malaysia, starting with a sustainable, hyper-connected AI-ready data centre campus in Johor.

“The first phase capacity of 64 megawatts (MW) is expected to be completed in 2026.

“I am confident that with the joint industry expertise, strong track record and extensive network of subsea cables of both telecommunication companies, this collaboration will be a gamechanger for the industry,” he said before the groundbreaking ceremony in EduCity in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

Beyond digital connectivity, the government intends to leverage AI technology and harness AI for the good of the Malaysian economy, he said.

Gobind said the new AI-ready data centre campus would serve the next-generation AI application providers and enterprises was a welcomed addition to support Malaysia’s ambition as a hub for AI development and innovation.

“While we welcome data centres to set up in Malaysia, we are also cognisant that data centres require power and water.

“As the data centre industry continues to grow and house greater computing power to meet the needs of the digital economy with the rise of AI, the industry must constantly innovate and adopt new, sustainable technologies that drive energy and water efficiencies,” he said.

Gobind said he was also glad that the TM and Nxera development would feature advanced technologies such as liquid cooling to support high-power density AI workloads and operations efficiently.

Singapore’s senior minister of state for trade and industry Low Yen Ling, who was also present at the event, said the joint venture was another example of the shared economic, cultural and bilateral ties enjoyed by both countries for so long.

“The TM-Nxera data centre will power the needs of our digital economy, support AI advancements and foster value creation.

“This joint venture exemplifies the strong collaboration between Singapore and Malaysia in driving digital innovation.

“Our economies are closely linked and initiatives such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) will enhance cross-border trade and business.

“Singapore looks forward to building an attractive investment ecosystem together with Malaysia in the JS-SEZ,” she said, adding that the event marked another significant milestone in both countries’ economic partnership.

Located just 16km from Singapore, the data centre campus will enable customers to seamlessly expand their infrastructure from the city state and the rest of the region.

The data centre can be scaled up to 200MW in response to market demand.

The groundbreaking ceremony came a month after TM and Nxera announced their strategic partnership.

Also present were TM group chief executive officer Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, Johor investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman Lee Ting Han and Nxera chairman Kai Nargolwala.

Source: The Star

New AI-ready data campus centre in Iskandar Puteri

Malaysia is proactive in addressing sustainability issues in the energy-intensive data centre industry, said Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

He pointed to measures such as the Large Scale Solar Project (LSS Project) and Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS) that should address concerns about the sustainability of data centres in Malaysia.

Akmal said the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry is ensuring that all incoming investments, particularly in data centres, adhere to the sustainability commitments.

“Investors entering the country, including data centres, must meet the demands or responsibilities of sustainable development goals or ESG commitments. Still, we must also ensure these commitments are met at the implementation level, not just in policy,” he told reporters after delivering his speech at the Accelerating Sustainable Business Action event today.

Akmal said the government places importance on sustainability, noting the launch of the National Energy Transition Roadmap last year attracted investors.

“The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has launched the National Energy Transition Roadmap, which outlines several initiatives towards renewable energy. At the federal level, under Petra (Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry), we welcome and follow up on these initiatives by enhancing policies and regulation.”

To facilitate investments, he added, Malaysia needs to make the process of renewable energy agreements easier while ensuring the stability of the existing energy system.

Akmal highlighted the recently completed application process for the fifth LSS project. “The application has closed, and now we are in the process of evaluating which applicants will qualify competitively to open new solar farms.”

At the same time, he said, about two weeks ago, the government announced the establishment of CRESS, which is intended to increase corporate consumers’ access to green electricity by allowing them the opportunity to procure green electricity supply directly from a renewable energy power producer.

“CRESS allows arrangements for companies seeking renewable energy to enter agreements with solar energy providers, where they generate renewable energy and only need to pay a charge to the grid system,” he added.

Source: The Sun

Malaysia proactive on sustainability issues in data centre industry: Deputy minister

Tasco

It seems that Tasco Bhd (KL:TASCO), which is almost 65% controlled by Japanese logistics giant Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (commonly known as NYK), is carving quite a comfortable spot in the annals of The Edge Malaysia Centurion Club Corporate Awards, having taken home the honours in 2019, 2022 and again this year.

The cross-border transportation, warehousing and distribution outfit has bagged the Highest Growth in Profit After Tax (PAT) Over Three Years award in the fourth edition of the Centurion awards, based on its impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 117% from FY2020 to FY2023.

In its FY2020 ended March 30, Tasco raked in a net profit of RM8.9 million, which jumped 364% to RM41.3 million in FY2021. It then rose by about 58% to RM65.2 million in FY2022 and by 39% to RM90.8 million in FY2023.

As its bottom line grew from strength to strength, Tasco’s return on equity (ROE), which was 9.12% in FY2021, jumped to 13.23% in FY2022 and a further 16.3% in FY2023. This gave it an adjusted ROE, based on Centurion awards methodology, of a respectable 14% over the three years.

The logistics company’s share price, which rose 8.6% from 96.7 sen (adjusted) at end-March 2021 to RM1.05 at end-March 2022, shed 22.7% to 81.2 sen at end-March 2023 before inching up 0.37% to 81.5 sen at end-March this year. The movements translate to an adjusted decline of 4.43% over the three-year period.

With its two substantial shareholders NYK and executive chairman Lee Check Poh (owns 9.89%) controlling almost 75% of the company’s stock and are unlikely to sell any shares, it is no wonder Tasco is thinly traded.

To its credit as well, the company has been regularly paying out dividends, which increased from 0.25 sen in FY2020 to 1.5 sen in FY2021, and further to 2.5 sen in FY2022 and 3.5 sen in FY2023.

FY2023 also marked the second consecutive year Tasco has achieved over RM1 billion in revenue, hitting a record RM1.61 billion, up almost 9% from RM1.48 billion in FY2022.

While many local logistics providers tend to offer a single transportation mode or service, Tasco does not appear to be overly reliant on a particular business segment. It has three main revenue generators: contract logistics, which provides warehousing and haulage services, contributed 34% of FY2023’s revenue or RM545.7 million; air freight forwarding, which provided 30% of FY2023 turnover or RM485.8 million; and ocean freight forwarding, which churned out 18% of FY2023 revenue or RM287.4 million.

This ensures that if any one segment falters, it will not overly impact revenue streams and weigh the company down.

Also in its favour is its reach, as the company is part of the global network of 681 locations under the NYK banner, with more than 27 logistics centres domestically.

On the domestic front, Tasco has an asset base of over 500 prime movers, making it among the largest hauliers in the country, with 300,000 sq m of warhehouse space.

In 2017, Tasco ventured into the cold chain logistics segment, which deals with the safe transport of temperature-sensitive goods and has higher margins of low teens compared with other logistics segments’ single-digit numbers. It invested close to RM216 million to acquire Gold Cold Transport Sdn Bhd and MILS Cold Chain Sdn Bhd. Two years later, Tasco hived off a 30% stake in its cold chain logistics segment held under Tasco Yusen Gold Cold Sdn Bhd to Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp for Transport and Urban Development for RM125 million.

More recently, after several strategic acquisitions, including a 50:50 acquisition of Hypercold Logistics Sdn Bhd in 2021 in Sabah with a local partner as it expanded into East Malaysia, Tasco Yusen Gold Cold has grown to become one of the largest cold chain logistics providers in Malaysia. The acquisition also made Tasco the largest third-party logistics cold chain warehouse facility operator in Sabah.

At the end of March this year, the cut-off date for the Centurion awards, Tasco’s market capitalisation was only RM652 million. Tasco has been largely trading below the RM1 band since mid-March 2021, making it a penny stock.

Considering its strong parentage — NYK is one of the largest transportation companies in the world, a billion-dollar company with a market capitalisation in excess of US$13 billion (RM60.89 billion) — and the strides it has been making on the local and regional front, Tasco should be under the spotlight.

Source: The Edge Malaysia

Cementing its position as a top-notch logistics company

Malaysia is advancing steadily to emerge as a leading global healthcare destination in 2025, with the success of the healthcare tourism sector chalking up a RM2.25 billion revenue in 2023.

In just a year before the completion of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint 2021-2025, the aspiration to fulfil the “Best Malaysia Healthcare Travel Experience” by 2025 can be achieved following a growing number of health tourists making their way to Malaysia.

Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), an agency under the Ministry of Health (MOH), told Bernama that the country recorded 584,468 health tourist arrivals for the first half of 2024 (1H2024). 

The agency said, in comparison, Malaysia recorded more than one million health tourist arrivals in 2023, up by a significant 15% from 850,000 in 2022, firmly entrenching the country as a fast-growing medical destination.

MHTC said Indonesia was the highest contributor of health tourists to Malaysia, comprising 70% to 80% of the total number last year.

As a background, the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint 2021-2025, which, among others, touches on the role of public and private sector stakeholders within the healthcare travel ecosystem, has managed to provide a framework of cohesive end-to-end experience to the health tourists with a high emphasis on the Malaysia healthcare brand. 

Among key touchpoints of the blueprint are medical services, teleconsultation, access to information, insurance, accommodation and immigration, which will drive the industry forward and make Malaysia a focal point to showcase the “Best Malaysia Healthcare Travel Experience” by 2025. 

The agency said the health tourism industry aims to generate RM2.4 billion in revenue for the whole of this year, and thus far, the sector has generated RM954.90 million in revenue for 1H2024.

MHTC said this is expected to contribute to an economic spillover to other industries to the tune of RM9.6 billion. 

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) should also be credited as having a role in this journey, based on a recent statement that the agency is actively supporting the international expansion of Malaysia’s healthcare industry via its vast network of global offices, to ensure the industry’s competitiveness and secured future-proof growth.

With 49 offices worldwide, Matrade has connected Malaysian companies, including healthcare firms, with foreign importers through export missions, business match-making programmes, as well as market intelligence reports, all of which have promoted Malaysia’s healthcare tourism industry.

These efforts reflect Malaysia’s commitment to advancing healthcare innovation and excellence, positioning the country as a key hub for global healthcare partnerships and business opportunities, according to Matrade.

Sunway Healthcare Group among key healthcare players 

Sunway Healthcare Group (SHG) is among players in Malaysia’s medical tourism sector, receiving a higher number of international patients seeking high-quality and affordable healthcare solutions.

SHG managing director (hospital and healthcare operations) Dr Khoo Chow Huat said the group attracted a substantial number of international patients, with the highest number coming from Indonesia.

International patients in SHG grew by more than 40% in the first half of this year, from the same period in 2023.

“Cultural similarities, comprehensive range of services, high standard of care and lower costs in comparison to neighbouring countries are among advantages that attracted them to seek medical treatment here.

“Some come for a few days for health screenings or simple outpatient consultations. Others may stay one- to three weeks, or even longer, depending on their medical treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and rehabilitation,” he told Bernama.

Comprehensive patient support services

Khoo said the adoption of advanced technologies and increased awareness of medical tourism led SHG to receive international patients, especially in its flagship quaternary hospital, Sunway Medical Centre (SMC), Sunway City Kuala Lumpur.

Quaternary care is the extension of tertiary care in reference to advanced levels of medicine, which are highly specialised, not widely accessed and usually only offered in a very limited number of national or international centres.

SHG also expanded its footprint to include tertiary hospitals, namely Sunway Medical Centre Velocity, Cheras; and Sunway Medical Centre, Penang. The three hospitals have a combined capacity of over 1,700 beds and more than 400 specialist consultants.

He said SHG invested in its International Patient Centre, which is a one-stop centre that handles everything from translation and visa processing, to billing and appointments, in addition to setting up 10 representative offices in Indonesia to provide support and assistance for medical treatment in Malaysia.

“We have 10 offices located in different regions to help patients in all matters related to the treatment, such as assisting in admission and discharge for patients, booking hotels, as well as medical transfers to Malaysia,” he said.

International patient experience

Yusof Fuad, 61, from Jakarta, has been undergoing hip replacement treatment at SMC since March 2024, after contracting an infection from a previous hip replacement surgery performed seven years ago.

He underwent two major surgeries from March to June earlier this year, and is expected to return for follow-up treatment in August.

“Looking at the costs of the two major surgeries I underwent, I am grateful that they are still covered by insurance because SMC is one of the hospitals that cooperates with international insurance companies, especially in Indonesia.

“Plus, my wife and children have been able to accompany me for over five months in Malaysia, due to the affordable currency exchange rate and the close location,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cynthia Hamdani, 35, from Bandung, Indonesia, has also decided to send her four-year-old daughter to SMC after her daughter experienced digestive issues.

“In Bandung, SMC is well-known, and I learned about it through a friend who received treatment there. She introduced me to a staff member at SMC and began coordinating with them over the phone to facilitate my daughter’s arrangements to seek treatment.

“I chose Malaysia because there are direct flights available, and the cost of treatment is more affordable,” she said.

Sunway Sanctuary

An added incentive is that Sunway Sanctuary, which is Malaysia’s premier senior living community, also provides accommodation for short-term stays for international patients who receive treatment at SMC.

The facility has welcomed residents not only from Malaysia, but Singapore, South Korea, China and Canada as well within its first year of operation since its launch a year ago.

“Located adjacent to SMC, we encourage international patients to stay here post-treatment, so that they will have a peace of mind that their healthcare needs are well taken care of (given the proximity),” Khoo said.

Meanwhile, Sunway Sanctuary general manager Leonard Theng said Sunway Sanctuary has achieved a 30% to 35% occupancy rate within its first year.

He said Singaporeans were a significant segment of the group’s target market, primarily due to the strong value of their currency.

“The facility has about 70 residents at the moment and the group aims to double its number of residents to between 140 and 150 in the coming year,” he said.

A part of pioneering a new era of aged care, Theng hopes Sunway Sanctuary will balance the healthcare and hospitality segments via its offerings for international patients.

Source: Bernama

Malaysia sets sight on emerging as leading healthcare destination by 2025

Sarawak may expect inflow of US$20bil in investments into potential large-scale solar power projects by multinational companies from China and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Shanghai Electric and China Three Gorges International Ltd are mulling to invest US$10bil and UAE’s state-owned clean energy provider, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, widely known as Masdar, may invest US$10bil to produce solar power from hydroelectric dams in Sarawak, according to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Top executives of these companies expressed their strong interest to make such investments in proposed solar power projects in Sarawak to Abang Johari during their meetings here late last month.

“The combination of the two is expected to produce an estimated three gigawatts (3GW or 3,000MW)) of solar power,” Abang Johari said at the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s 30th anniversary celebration dinner here.

He said Sarawak is capable of producing at least 3,000MW of electricity from floating solar panels’ installation on existing hydroelectric dams, including Bakun and Murum.

The 2,400MW Bakun dam and 944MW Murum dam in the upper Rejang basin in Kapit Divisions have the potential to produce 500MW and 600MW respectively via floating solar farms on their reservoirs.

Another major dam, the 1,285MW Baleh dam project currently under construction is targetted for completion in fourth quarter of 2028, according to developer Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB).

Abang Johari recently toured the SEB’s floating solar farm project on Batang Ai hydro dam reservoir in Sri Aman Division. The 50MW floating solar farm, Malaysia’s largest and the first major hybrid generation facility combining hydro and solar, is expected to be commissioned in October this year.

The solar farm project is a joint venture between SEB, China Power International Holdings (a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Power Investment Corp) and solar energy firm, Trina Solar.

SEB, according to its group chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Sharbini Suhaili, is conducting studies on the feasibility of a Phase 2 floating solar facility at Batang Ai with a capacity of up to 160MW. The 108MW Batang Ai dam, the first hydro power plant in Sarawak, was commissioned in 1985.

The 50MW Batang Ai floating solar farm project occupies merely about 3% or 86 ha out of the 8,500 ha of the dam’s reservoir.

Sharbini said SEB is evaluating proposals from potential independent power producers keen to invest in solar energy projects in Sarawak.

Abang Johari said UAE’s Masdar is interested to invest in solar energy development.

Masdar and SEB inked a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on developing clean energy in Sarawak during the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai in December 2023.

Masdar, with its presence in more than 40 countries, is one of the world’s largest renewable energy companies and a green hydrogen leader that has placed the UAE in the forefront of energy transition,

In a follow-up meeting with SEB’s top officials and Sarawak Premier in Kuching recently, Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said Masdar was committed to working with the Sarawak government and its local partners to invest and develop large-scale renewable energy projects.

According to him, Masdar aims to develop gigawatts of renewable energy capacity in Malaysia and across other Asian countries.

On the other hand, Shanghai Electric Malaysia director Zhang Xiaohui said his company and China Three Gorges’ experience and success in working with companies in Sarawak had given them the confidence to increase their investments.

“We from Shanghai Electric and China Three Gorges want to participate in green energy development and we plan to invest US$10bil in Sarawak.”

Zhang said the two companies would extend their support to Sarawak Premier’s aim to turn Sarawak into a green energy hub.

Three Gorges was the main contractor for the Murum dam, which commenced construction in 2008 and became fully operational in 2015.

Source: The Star

Foreign firms keen on renewable energy business in Sarawak

However, the rapid growth of data centres could result in both positive and negative consequences to local residents and surrounding areas 

THE proliferation of data centres in Malaysia highlights the growing need for improved connectivity and cloud services, which in turn fuels technological advancement and economic growth. 

Equinix Malaysia MD Cheam Tat Inn said the demand for data centre capacity in the country will rise due to the growing daily activities of consumers and businesses, including online shopping, email, video calls and critical medical work. 

“As companies rapidly integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations, it is driving increased demand for data centre capacity. 

“While the emergence of multiple data centres can create a dynamic and competitive landscape, it presents an excellent opportunity for the nation to advance its digital infrastructure,” he told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR). 

He said with thoughtful planning and strategic development, this growth can be harnessed to significantly benefit the country, fostering a more connected and technologically advanced society while contributing to the nation’s economy. 

Nevertheless, the rapid growth of data centres could result in both positive and negative consequences, potentially affecting local residents and surrounding areas. 

Previously, Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said data centres constituted the majority (RM114.7 billion) from RM144.7 billion in approved digital investments between 2021 and 2023. 

Approved investments were RM3.4 billion in 2021, RM80.8 billion in 2022 and RM60.5 billion in 2023, coming from various organisations such as Amazon.com Inc, GDS Holdings Ltd, YTL Corp Bhd and ByteDance Ltd. 

Currently, Malaysia is aiming to develop areas in Johor Bahru (JB), Cyberjaya and Kulim as data centre hubs. 

Cyberview Sdn Bhd, the development agency behind Cyberjaya, is setting the stage for a transformative era in the city’s growth. 

Cyberview head of strategic communications Iza Sofia Kasbi said Cyberjaya is not just a hub for new technologies but also a cornerstone for sustainable development. 

The company has been pivotal in establishing key infrastructure projects, including the platinum-rated Cyberjaya Hospital. 

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the digital shift, leading to a surge in data centre investments in Cyberjaya. 

These investments are crucial as the city aims to build an ecosystem of many advanced technologies. 

“We are now in the process of building a processing zone, which will require the development of supercomputers and AI,” she told TMR. 

Recent Data Centre Launches 

Malaysia’s shifting focus towards securing more investments in data centre hubs is becoming increasingly apparent, following several recently signed memoranda of understanding and launches. 

In May, digital infrastructure company Equinix Inc expanded its digital footprint in Malaysia with the opening of two international business exchange (IBX) data centres in Johor (JH1)
and Kuala Lumpur (KL1), reinforcing its goal of becoming a leading regional digital hub. Recently, Equinix invested RM23 million to purchase a land in Cyberjaya to expand its data centre capacity in Malaysia.

This expansion followed the launch of Equinix’s IBX facilities in KL1 and JH1, and is aimed to meet the rising demand for data centre services in Malaysia and South-East Asia. 

The newly acquired 14,300 sq m of land will support Equinix’s growth in the region. Meanwhile, AirTrunk, a Sydney-based 

Asia Pacific and Japan hyperscale data centre specialist, has launched its flagship 150 megawatts (MW) data centre, AirTrunk JHB1, in JB. 

The facility, positioned to enhance connectivity with regional technology hubs, including Singapore, was launched in an event attended by MITI Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong and Australian government officials. 

Malaysia’s data centre market is growing rapidly due to its strategic location, supportive policies and increasing digital infrastructure needs, with a projected market value of RM18.29 billion by 2029. 

Impact On Local Communities 

Data centres play a crucial role in modern economies, not only as hubs for data storage and processing but also as catalysts for local community development. 

Open DC Sdn Bhd founder and MD Wong Weng Yew said such facilities play a significant role in community development by driving economic growth, creating job opportunities and contributing to local infrastructure investments. 

He said data centres normally require substantial investments, often exceeding RM50 million, which can drive local economic growth. 

“Our data centres have led to upgrades in local power grids and enhancements in water supply systems,” he told TMR. 

This infrastructure development is essential not only for data centre operations but also for the broader community, improving utilities and services that benefit residents. 

For example, Open DC’s investments have included the construction and maintenance of access roads, which improve transportation for local communities. 

Additionally, the company supports public services like local schools and healthcare facilities, contributing to overall quality of life improvements. 

Meanwhile, Equinix’s Cheam said the construction and operation of data centres often lead to the development of supporting infrastructure such as roads and utilities, improved public services and enhanced connectivity, acting as a “good neighbour”. 

“Investment in infrastructure improves efficiency by reducing transportation and logistics costs, connecting small businesses to broader markets and attracting both domestic and foreign investment. “Enhanced infrastructure, such as reliable power, water and Internet services, boosts productivity, enabling small businesses to function effectively and scale operations,” he added. 

He also remarked that data centres attract ancillary businesses and service providers, further stimulating local economies. 

“Higher demand for goods and services directly translates into increased sales and revenue for small businesses, encouraging them to scale up operations, invest in new technologies, and expand their workforce. 

“This demand strengthens local supply chains and fosters market confidence, creating a positive business environment,” he said. 

Among other benefits include the creation of a wide range of job opportunities, mainly roles for IT technicians, cyber security specialists, data analysts as well as support staff, which ultimately contribute to local employment by providing high-quality jobs with competitive salaries and career development prospects. 

Additionally, these roles support the growth of Malaysia’s tech sector, helping to build a skilled workforce and encourage local expertise in digital infrastructure. 

The company recognises these initiatives as catalysts for innovation and job creation, contributing to the development of a digitally skilled workforce. 

The creation of data centres can also impact local housing markets, frequently resulting in higher demand and escalating rental prices as tech workers relocate to the area. 

However, Wong pointed out that this could also stimulate the local economy, enhancing amenities and services for all residents. 

He mentioned that Open DC collaborates with local authorities to balance these effects, ensuring that community development remains equitable. 

Regarding Cyberview, Cyberjaya’s unique designation as “enterprise land” has shielded the local housing market from the impacts typically associated with data centre growth. 

Iza Sofia said this classification ensures the land is reserved for business and technological enterprises, thereby maintaining a clear separation from residential areas. 

Environmental Sustainability Concerns

Wong said there is no doubt that the establishment of a large facility such as a data centre will require significant daily consumption of electricity and water. 

Naturally, such major developments will raise a number of environmental issues, hence it is imperative for all data centres to prioritise sustainability, considering their substantial energy needs. 

He said Open DC has implemented various strategies to mitigate environmental impact such as utilising sustainable energy sources, advanced cooling systems and water treatment technologies. 

The company is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by adopting renewable energy (RE) sources and pursuing green building certifications like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and GreenRE. 

For Equinix, Cheam pointed out that the rising demand for data centres is further fuelled by the need to support AI applications, which require high-density power. 

As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly central to the modern world, he said the growing demand for data centres will inevitably lead to higher power and water consumption. 

Therefore, it is crucial for the industry to prioritise the design, construction and operation of data centres in a sustainable manner. 

Data centres are actively minimising their environmental impact and promoting sustainability through several key measures by enhancing energy efficiency with efficient hardware and power management, while adopting RE sources via green power purchase agreements, on-site generation and RE credits. 

Simultaneously, Equinix is committed to preserving its collective future by addressing pressing environmental challenges to ensure the sustainability and resiliency of its communities, global society and business. 

Cheam said its multi-faceted approach leverages numerous opportunities to advance sustainability within its industry and create long-term value for stakeholders. 

As for AirTrunk, the JHB1 has a low power usage effectiveness of 1.15, making it one of the most energy-efficient data centres in Malaysia. 

JHB1 features advanced cooling technologies, including direct-to-chip liquid cooling and indirect evaporative cooling, which greatly reduce energy consumption. 

In partnership with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), AirTrunk has connected the facility to the grid, supported by a 30MW RE agreement under Malaysia’s Corporate Green Power Programme. 

To support the influx of data centres, Cyberview is enhancing its infrastructure, including the addition of a new Transmission Main Intake, while also in collaboration with TNB, to meet the growing energy demands. 

Looking ahead, Cyberview is focused on integrating RE solutions and water recycling systems to meet the sustainability needs of these data centres. 

Data Privacy, Security and Bridging Connections

Data privacy and security are becoming increasingly valuable as nearly everyone in the world has a digital footprint somewhere on the web. 

Wong said with data privacy concerns becoming increasingly prominent, Open DC adheres to strict security standards, being ISO27001 and PCI-DSS certified. 

The company has policies for data access, retention and protection ensuring personal data confidentiality and integrity. 

It also invested in continuous system monitoring and regular staff training to uphold high-security standards. 

Data centres like those operated by Open DC are pivotal in enhancing digital infrastructure, thereby improving access to online services in both urban and rural areas. 

Wong said the company is involved in initiatives to provide affordable Internet access and digital literacy programmes, particularly in underserved areas. 

Open DC is also constructing the first Tier-3 Data Centre in northern Malaysia, which will include the DE-CIX Internet Exchange, further boosting regional digital connectivity.

Source: The Malaysian Reserve

Data centre surge boosts M’sia tech and economic growth

The Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication is looking into setting up data centres using green technology and renewable energy, says the minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi.

According to him, this is to accommodate the significant increase in applications from investors interested in establishing data centres in Sarawak.

“We receive quite a number of applications from investors to set up data centres in Sarawak. In fact, it’s almost every month that we receive applications from interested investors.

“One of the main attractions is our green technology and renewable energy. So we are working on it,” he told a press conference after attending a satellite technology briefing by Malaysia East Asia Satellite (Measat) at Hilton Hotel here today.

Julaihi was asked whether there are plans to add new data centres in Sarawak.

He noted that they are evaluating applications submitted to the ministry, as well as to its agency, Sarawak Energy Bhd, and potentially other relevant ministries.

“So we are evaluating all the applications submitted to the Sarawak government.

“So this is, I think, in line with the effort to set up data centres using green technology, green renewable energy.

“So we are known for that because at the moment our renewable energy is up to 70 per cent. So that is the attraction that we have right here in Sarawak,” added Julaihi.

Source: Bernama

Sarawak looking at setting up data centres using green tech, renewable energy