Google’s US$2B Investment in Malaysia’s AI Future

Google’s US$2 Billion Investment in Malaysia’s AI Infrastructure

KUALA LUMPUR – Google has expressed admiration for Malaysia’s bold approach to constructing its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, with the company committing US$2 billion (RM8.93 billion) towards this vision.

At the APEC Summit in Peru, Google’s Karan Bhatia, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, acknowledged the government’s strategy, which resulted in the US$2 billion investment into a new data centre in Malaysia.

Google’s Plans for Cloud Services and AI Education Programs

The investment, announced in May 2024, includes the establishment of Malaysia’s first Google data centre and a new Google Cloud region to accommodate increasing demand for cloud computing services. Additionally, the company will introduce AI educational programs for students and educators, with projections to create 26,500 new jobs by 2030 and an economic impact exceeding US$3.2 billion (RM14.29 billion).

Microsoft’s Positive Assessment of Malaysia’s AI Roadmap

Microsoft’s Zia Mansoor, Vice President of Data and AI, also praised Malaysia’s National AI Roadmap, highlighting its depth and focus on AI infrastructure and workforce development. Speaking at the APEC CEO Summit in Peru 2024, Mansoor noted the roadmap’s comprehensive scope.

“It’s a holistic approach, focusing on both the infrastructure and the critical task of educating Malaysians in AI technologies,” Mansoor commented. The roadmap includes the creation of a government AI centre of excellence for utilizing AI across public services.

Prime Minister Anwar Discusses Future of AI with Google

On November 15, Prime Minister Anwar met with Google in Peru, discussing Malaysia’s strategic plans for AI and data centres. He underlined the importance of strengthening the AI ecosystem and addressing challenges such as data protection and exploitation. Anwar further assured that Malaysia is ready to adjust its policies to remain competitive in attracting high-value investments.