According to Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Malaysia’s status as a favoured destination for data centre development is expected to maintain its growth trajectory.
This growth is attributed to Malaysia’s strategic location, robust infrastructure, political stability, and government support.
Fahmi emphasised that the government’s backing not only encourages foreign investments but also highlights the nation’s commitment to nurturing innovation and technological progress, according to Bernama.
Fahmi made these remarks during a C-Suite Roundtable Session with Investors from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, held on the sidelines of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) Global 2023 in Dubai.
In line with these goals, Fahmi noted that the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) would play a crucial role in fostering collaboration between corporations, positioning Malaysia as the gateway for other ASEAN countries in the digital economy.
“We in Malaysia are eager to collaborate in any area related to the digital economy, and we see substantial growth potential in data centres and cloud centres with significant investment opportunities.
Malaysia is not just open for business; it is here to facilitate and support your business endeavours. My role is to facilitate, expedite, and ensure that Malaysia can be your partner and, more importantly, your home,” Fahmi stated.
After the roundtable discussion, Fahmi held a courtesy meeting with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Application, Omar Sultan Al Olama, to explore digital initiatives further.
Fahmi expressed Malaysia’s readiness to collaborate with the UAE in the realm of data protection, with a particular focus on ensuring that advancements in artificial intelligence align with personal data privacy and protection legislation and guidelines, such as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2018.
During the 15-minute discussion between the two ministers, they touched upon the potential for trade collaboration between both countries in the digital economy and data centre sectors.
Fahmi highlighted that the UAE and Malaysia have complementary strengths in bridging digital economy infrastructures in both nations.
He also extended an invitation to Omar to visit Malaysia and gain a firsthand experience of the digital growth in the country, furthering the potential for collaboration.
