MIDA shifts data centre focus from investment to local value at DCN 2026
The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) used Data Centre Nexus 2026 in Kuala Lumpur on 14 September to argue that the sector must now deliver value for local firms, not only investment. MIDA said Malaysia recorded RM385.7 billion in data centre related investment from 2021 to the first half of 2026.
Key points
- Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin said the next phase is about AI adoption, home-grown innovation, skilled talent and higher-value jobs.
- MIDA chairman Tengku Zafrul said attracting investment was only the first step.
- The business matching session drew 14 data centre companies and 51 local vendors, up from 8 and 17 at the 2025 event.
- MIDA CEO Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim said growth must be matched by responsibility in managing energy, water and land.
Why it matters for Malaysia
After years of chasing capacity, the investment agency is saying that spillovers will be its measure of success. The growth in vendor numbers is an early sign, though the release does not say how many deals resulted.
Questions answered
- How much data centre investment has Malaysia recorded?
- According to MIDA, Malaysia recorded RM385.7 billion in data centre related investments from 2021 to the first half of 2026. Operators named include AWS, Microsoft, Google, Bridge Data Centres, DayOne, AirTrunk and Vantage Data Centres.
- How can Malaysian firms take part in the data centre sector?
- MIDA said the wider ecosystem spans engineering, construction, electrical systems, cooling, telecommunications, cybersecurity and logistics. At Data Centre Nexus 2026, 14 data centre companies and 51 local vendors joined a business matching session.