Johor: Johor is expected to host 60 percent of Malaysia's total data centre capacity by 2030, establishing itself as the digital hub for Southeast Asia, stated the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz emphasized that this transformation will be driven by the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Tengku Zafrul noted that the JS-SEZ is accelerating the pace of development, enhancing talent attraction initiatives, and strengthening supply chain connections within ASEAN and beyond. He expressed that Johor is no longer just keeping pace but is setting the standard for digital ambitions in the region. His remarks were made during the DayOne Syndicated Financing and Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme signing ceremony.
DayOne Data Centres has finalized its RM15 billion equivalent multi-currency financing, which includes a RM7.5 billion Murabahah Term Financing facility and a US$1.7 billion Offshore Term Loan facility. Tengku Zafrul was present at the signing ceremony for this significant syndication.
The joint coordinators for one of Asia's largest data centre financing transactions, supporting DayOne's major development in the JS-SEZ, include CIMB, Cr©dit Agricole, DBS, Maybank, OCBC, Standard Chartered, and UOB. Tengku Zafrul highlighted that in the first quarter of 2025, Johor attracted over RM30 billion in investments, with nearly 90 percent directed towards digital infrastructure.
Tengku Zafrul further shared that as the ASEAN Chair for 2025, Malaysia is actively promoting the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA). He mentioned that Malaysia's digital economy is projected to contribute over 25 percent of the national GDP this year. By 2030, digital investments are expected to catalyze nearly RM400 billion in cumulative GDP, supporting advancements in AI research, e-health, e-services, digital banking, and e-commerce.
Concerning the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS), DayOne has secured up to 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB). Tengku Zafrul explained that CRESS enables hyperscale data centres and large energy consumers to purchase renewable energy directly from producers like TNB. He noted that TNB's market-driven solution aims to achieve Malaysia's 70 percent renewable energy target in the energy generation mix by 2050.
He added that CRESS, along with national guidelines, renewable targets driven by the National Investment Management Plan (NIMP), and transparent reporting standards, are shaping Malaysia into a hub for digital investment and a benchmark for responsible growth in ASEAN.