Malaysia is definitively transforming from a regional overflow destination into a primary strategic hub for sustainable data center operations in Southeast Asia. Capitalizing on this momentum, w.media is hosting the Malaysia Cloud & Datacenter Convention 2025 on October 23 in Kuala Lumpur, with the theme: “Sustainability in Action: Building Malaysia’s Data Centers of Tomorrow.”
This day-long event will convene over 1,500 industry leaders, including a significant contingent of C-level executives, digital infrastructure professionals, and key government decision-makers. The convention arrives at a significant moment, as Malaysia’s data center market is projected to experience explosive growth from USD 4.04 billion in 2024 to USD 13.57 billion by 2030, representing a 22.38% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
Why Malaysia? The Sustainability Imperative
Malaysia’s ascent is fueled by more than just market demand; it is driven by a coordinated national strategy for sustainable digital growth. The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) launched the Guidelines for Sustainable Development of Data Centres in late 2024, and building on this foundation, a comprehensive Sustainable Data Centre Framework is set to be unveiled this October 2025 by the Ministry of Digital (KD) and MITI. Developed under the Data Centre Task Force (DCTF), this framework will streamline policies and further strengthen Malaysia’s position as a regional green digital hub.
Reflecting on this momentum, Noorzita Mohamad Nor, Director of Business Services & Regional Operations Division at the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), emphasized: “From MIDA’s perspective, our commitment to developing a sustainable digital infrastructure is a cornerstone of our value proposition. The significant, billion-dollar investments from global technology leaders in recent years are a direct vote of confidence in the country’s sustainable vision.”
Supporting these efforts, the government’s Digital Ecosystem Acceleration (DESAC) Scheme offers attractive tax incentives for data center operators that adopt sustainable practices, including investments in energy and water-efficient equipment and renewable energy adoption. These initiatives are closely aligned with the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which sets a target of 70% renewable energy capacity by 2050. The Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS) is empowering data center providers in Malaysia to directly source renewable energy from third party renewables suppliers through the grid, embedding sustainability into the core of their operations. This initiative is critical as demand for reliable power from hyperscale data centers is projected to exceed 5 GW by 2035.
Leading the way, DayOne has signed Malaysia’s first-ever CRESS agreement with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), securing up to 500MW of renewable energy for 21 years. In a parallel development, Gamuda Energy has partnered with Gentari Renewables to build 1.5GW of capacity through solar power plants paired with battery storage, a project that will also fall under the CRESS framework to meet the urgent energy needs of the sector.
The Rise of a Green Data Center Powerhouse
Malaysia has now established itself as one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital hubs, outperforming regional peers and attracting investments from both established and new players. Global hyperscalers are committing significant resources, recognizing the country’s strategic value, while fresh entrants such as DAMAC Digital, and STACK Infrastructure are bringing new capital and innovation into the ecosystem. At the same time, established operators including AIMS Data Centres, YTL Data Centers, and Bridge Data Centres are scaling their operations to keep pace with soaring demand.
As Tho Lye Yit, Vice President of Design & Delivery, APAC, Bridge Data Centres, noted: “As Malaysia strengthens its role as a regional hub, sustainability must remain at the core of this transformation. At Bridge Data Centres, we believe environmental responsibility must go hand in hand with Malaysia’s data centre growth. From energy efficiency to water stewardship, sustainable practices are critical to ensuring long-term resilience and competitiveness.”
What to Expect at the Malaysia Cloud & Datacenter Convention 2025
The convention will serve as a critical platform for industry leaders and government officials to shape the future of sustainable digital infrastructure. Keynote sessions will explore how to balance performance, sustainability, and security in the AI era, while also highlighting the role of renewable energy and CRESS in advancing green adoption, and the importance of building a national AI strategy.
Expert panels will navigate Malaysia’s investment surge, its growing role as a regional connectivity hub, and strategies for securing data centers against next-generation cyber threats. Attendees can also expect insights from senior representatives from the Government of Malaysia, TM Global, Bridge Data Centres, the National AI Office Malaysia (NAIO), Huawei, and many more.
On this, Noorzita Mohamad Nor added: “Events like this serve as an important platform, bringing together public and private stakeholders to accelerate our collective journey and solidify Malaysia’s position as a leading sustainable digital hub in the region.”
Echoing this view, Tho Lye Yit remarked: “Industry events like this are valuable platforms for sharing best practices and working together to strengthen Malaysia’s digital future.”
DON’T MISS OUT!
The Malaysian data center market is booming, with a clear and determined focus on sustainable development. The Malaysia Cloud & Datacenter Convention 2025 to be held at at the Grand Nexus Ballroom, Connexion Conference & Event Centre, is the definitive event to connect with the decision-makers, discover pivotal partnerships, and help shape the next decade of green growth.
Register today to secure your place at the forefront of sustainable cloud computing in Southeast Asia.
