Maran Perianen
Google will invest US$15 billion in Malaysia over 2027 and 2028. The new data centre campuses will go to Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was present at the announcement in Kuala Lumpur on 4 November.
The plan also covers 1 gigawatt (GW) of clean energy and local water projects. It adds skills programmes for about 800,000 Malaysians by 2031.
Where Google is building
The release says the new campuses will sit in industrial zones in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. It does not name the sites. The plan builds on 2024, when Google broke ground in Elmina Business Park, Selangor.
That Elmina campus is now operational. In addition, Google says its Selangor computing capacity will support an upcoming Google Cloud region in Malaysia. Customers named include AirAsia, Maxis, Gamuda, Hong Leong Bank and AEON360.
Notably, the release names no Johor site. Johor is often called the country’s data centre hub. One report says it could hold 60 per cent of national capacity by 2030. It also notes power and water pressure there.
So, Google is placing its next campuses around the Klang Valley and in the neighbouring state to the south. The release does not say why it chose these locations.
Jobs and skills in the host states
In short, Google says it works with more than 80 Malaysian entities on construction, power, cooling and services. For construction in 2027 and 2028, it expects to support more than 37,000 local jobs a year. About 6,000 of these will be in construction.
Once the campuses run, Google projects more than 9,000 local jobs a year. As a result, wages would average 45 per cent above the national median. Meanwhile, Google already has a full on-site team at Elmina.
Still, the skills programmes focus on the host states. Jelajah AI MSME will first run a pilot for small businesses in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. The AKAD Rakyat programme targets 19 local councils across the two states.
In addition, Google plans Data Center Institutes at selected polytechnics in both states. From 2027, they will run a 10-week course for technical and vocational jobseekers. A fourth programme, Experience AI Malaysia, covers students aged 11 to 14 nationwide.
Power and water for the new campuses
On water, Anwar said Google plans an off-river reservoir and treatment plant in Negeri Sembilan, as Malay Mail reports. It is expected to supply 65 million litres of treated water a day. It would be handed to the state government on completion.
Separately, Google plans rainwater harvesting at Selangor schools. It also plans river projects at Sungai Buloh and Sungai Selangor, according to other reports.
On power, Google plans to add more than 1GW of clean energy to the national grid. However, the reports do not say what type of generation or when it will arrive. One report says Google will pay for the power its campuses use.
Meanwhile, Alphabet and Google President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat said the investment aligns with Malaysia’s development priorities. In her words, Google will add local power and water resources as its operations scale.
Likewise, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the plan sets a high standard for sustainable digital infrastructure. Overall, the next test is where the first new campus rises and when work starts.
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