Malaysia attracts data centre interest amid Middle East conflict

Malaysia is seeing increased interest as a data centre hub due to heightened regional risks in the Middle East following the outbreak of war between the US and Iran. SD Guthrie Bhd, the world’s largest palm oil planter by acreage, noted that while the Middle East was previously attractive for its energy options, the conflict has increased investment risks.

SD Guthrie plans to utilize some of its lower-yielding land for industrial development to capitalize on this boom. Malaysia has already attracted significant investment from major technology firms including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. Additionally, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reported that SoftBank Group Corp’s Masayoshi Son has selected locations in the country for US$50 billion in technology investments.