Johor bahru: Johor has approved 42 data centre construction projects in the second quarter of this year, establishing the state as a leader in the country's digital investment and a strategic destination for high-tech economic growth, stated Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor. In a Facebook post, he highlighted the role of data centres as key drivers for the Johor-Singapore Economic Zone, the Johor Digital Plan, and the state's border economic transformation agenda.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the statement came after the Johor Data Centre Development Taskforce meeting, co-chaired by Johor Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communication Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh and Johor Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han. The meeting also reviewed seven new applications for data centre development in the Greater Johor Bahru area.
Mohd Jafni emphasized that the task force represents a comprehensive approach by the state government, coordinated by Johor Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia) and involving key technical agencies in the state. The state government is focusing on developing data centres in planned industrial zones like Ibrahim Technopolis (IBTEC) in Kulai, the Sedenak industrial area, and the Pasir Gudang industrial zone. These locations offer strategic advantages, including access to major highways, high-capacity power grids, stable water supply, and proximity to ports and international airports.
He mentioned that 7,618 acres of planned industrial land have been allocated for data centre development, including areas under the Pasir Gudang City Council such as ASM Green, Rising Gateway, Iskandar Halal Hub, Kosmo, and Keck Seng, as well as IBTEC under the Kulai Municipal Council. 'IBTEC, developed by Johor Land Group, alone has allocated 600 acres specifically for data centre development,' he said, adding that the state government will limit new approvals for data centre construction in areas under the Johor Bahru City Council and Iskandar Puteri City Council to avoid land use conflicts with residential areas.
The approval process for data centres in Johor is described as highly transparent and based on genuine technical requirements. Each application must comply with noise and heat control measures, architectural design standards, energy capacity requirements, as well as disaster and environmental risk management considerations. Johor is the first state to adopt Tier 4 data centre technology, the highest classification for data centre reliability and redundancy, which includes air-cooling systems and wastewater recycling technology, developed in collaboration with Indah Water Konsortium and Johor Special Water.