Gobind: RM226bil in data centre investments to create more than 4,000 jobs

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's 27 data centre projects approved under the Data Centre Task Force (DCTF), involving an estimated RM225.97 billion in investments, are expected to create 4,053 jobs.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said 3,523 of the positions would be highly skilled jobs, with most expected to be filled by Malaysians.

"Of these, 89.21 per cent of the highly skilled positions are expected to be filled by Malaysians," he said in a written parliamentary reply.

Gobind said the positions would cover electrical and mechanical engineering, networking, cybersecurity, and data centre operations and maintenance.

He said projects approved under the DCTF were also subject to a minimum local content requirement of 30 per cent. This was intended to encourage Malaysian companies to participate in the growing data centre industry.

Compliance with the requirement is monitored by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) through project implementation reports submitted every six months.

Gobind said 84 data centre projects had been approved nationwide as of July, including the 27 approved under the DCTF, which was established in February last year.

Of the 27 projects, 16 are in Johor, 10 in Selangor and one in Negri Sembilan. One has begun operations, while the remaining 26 are under construction.

He said TalentCorp Malaysia is also developing a Data Centre Facility Management Programme to equip Malaysians with the skills needed for data centre operations and maintenance.

Gobind said the government would continue monitoring the projects to ensure the investments generated tangible economic benefits, particularly through quality employment, local business participation, skills development and technology transfer.