Malaysia Expected To Secure $40B AI, Data Centre Investment By 2030

Malaysia is poised to become Southeast Asia's leading hub for artificial intelligence (AI) and data center investments, with projections exceeding $40 billion (approximately RM169 billion) by 2030. This growth is fueled by major hyperscalers and global technology firms, supported by the government's National AI Action Plan 2026–2030, which has already seen significant investment approvals and job creation potential in 2025. The surge in capital is expected to drive strong demand in cloud and data center operations, cloud engineering, data science, analytics, and cybersecurity roles between 2025 and 2027. Key strategic locations such as the Negeri Sembilan High Tech Industrial Park are emerging as focal points for AI development in the country. However, Malaysia's efforts to regulate the pace of data center expansion, particularly in Johor, may complicate China's ambitions to access advanced AI chips through its overseas data center investments. This reflects broader geopolitical concerns, including U.S. Commerce Department worries about AI chip transfers potentially supporting military applications in China.