SoftBank May Invest $50 Billion in Malaysia, Focusing on AI and Data Centers
SoftBank Group is planning an investment of approximately $50 billion in Malaysia. According to a Bloomberg report, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has disclosed details regarding this potential investment, which will focus on artificial intelligence (AI), new technologies, and the development of data centers. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that, following a video conference with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, specific locations have been identified for the investment—including the city of Kuching in the state of Sarawak and several sites within Peninsular Malaysia.
Malaysia Aims to Advance in the AI Sector by 2030
The Malaysian government is working toward transforming the country into a major AI hub by 2030. To this end, the government launched a ‘National AI Action Plan’ this year, aimed at strengthening AI-related technologies, digital facilities, and essential infrastructure. SoftBank’s potential investment could help advance this objective. Data centers are critical for operating AI systems and securely storing vast amounts of data.
Google, Amazon, and Microsoft Are Also Investing
SoftBank is not the only company investing in Malaysia. Earlier in 2024, Google announced a $2 billion investment to establish its first data and cloud center in the country. Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has planned an investment of $6.2 billion in Malaysia through 2038. Additionally, Microsoft has announced a $2.2 billion investment dedicated to cloud and AI infrastructure. According to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, investments related to data centers in the country from 2021 to June 2026 have reached 385.7 billion ringgit—approximately 94 billion dollars.
