Google says it will invest US$15 billion in Malaysia over 2027 and 2028, building out data centre campuses in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan alongside clean energy, water and skills projects.
The company set out the plan in a Google Malaysia blog post on 4 November, announced at an event attended by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. In his keynote, published by the Prime Minister’s Office, Anwar called it “a monumental milestone”.
In brief
- Google plans “an investment of US$15 billion over the next two years (2027 to 2028)” in Malaysia.
- It also plans more than 1 GW of new clean energy for the national grid and AI skills training for 800,000 people by 2031.
- Jobs and GDP figures are Google’s own projections.
What the Google Malaysia investment covers
The money builds on the digital infrastructure investment Google announced in 2024. Its first Malaysian data centre campus, at Elmina Business Park in Selangor, is “now operational”, and Google says new campuses are planned in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. Capacity in Selangor will also support an upcoming Google Cloud region in Malaysia for business customers.
Google projects that the construction phase, over 2027 and 2028, is “expected to contribute an annual average of US$1.1 billion to Malaysia’s GDP and support more than 37,000 local jobs per year”, with US$378 million in average annual labour income. It estimates about 6,000 of those jobs will be in construction. Once running, it projects the campuses will sustain “more than 9,000 local jobs per year, with wages averaging 45% above the national median”.
Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, said: “Google is committed to growing our presence responsibly, delivering lasting value for Malaysia’s economy and people.” Gobind Singh Deo, Malaysia’s Minister of Digital, said Google’s “comprehensive blueprint sets a high standard for sustainable, high-impact digital infrastructure development in Malaysia”.
Power, water and skills
On energy, Google plans to bring more than 1 GW of new clean energy capacity to the National Grid, anchored by a collaboration with Tenaga Nasional Berhad under Malaysia’s Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme. It says it “will also pay for 100% of the power its data center campuses use” and the direct costs of connecting them to the grid. Google puts the efficiency of its campuses in tropical climates at a power usage effectiveness of 1.12 to 1.14, against what it gives as an industry average of 1.54.
On water, Google and the Global Environment Centre will expand work in the Sungai Buloh and Sungai Selangor river basins, and rainwater harvesting tanks are being installed at four schools in Selangor. Anwar said in his speech that a reservoir Google is funding will deliver 65 million litres of potable water a day and be handed to the State Government on completion.
On skills, four programmes aim to train 800,000 Malaysians from 2027 to 2031: Experience AI Malaysia for schools, Jelajah AI MSME for microbusinesses, AKAD Rakyat for local councils, and Data Center Institutes at polytechnics.
Why the Google Malaysia investment matters
Malaysia has become one of the busiest data centre markets in Asia, and the government has been trying to make sure the boom leaves more than server halls behind. TSN has reported that Malaysia approved a 30% renewable energy minimum for data centres, and Google’s pledge to add more than 1 GW of clean capacity and pay its own power bill is pitched squarely at those concerns. So is its earlier deal to pay for a Negeri Sembilan reservoir and water plant, which Anwar returned to in his speech.
The headline numbers need care. The US$15 billion is a plan over two years, and the GDP, jobs and wage figures are Google’s projections, not independent estimates. Most of the 37,000 jobs a year are tied to the construction phase; the long-run figure Google gives is about 9,000. The skills target is spread over five years and four partner programmes.
What to watch is delivery: when the new campuses and the Google Cloud region open, how quickly the clean energy reaches the grid, and whether the water and energy affordability promises show up in the states that host the sites. More of TSN’s Malaysia coverage is on the Malaysia tag page.
Sources
- Google Malaysia blog: US$15 billion Malaysia investment (4 November 2026)
- Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia: verbatim text of the Prime Minister’s speech (4 November 2026)
Related stories
- Google Pays US$160m for a Negeri Sembilan Reservoir and Water Plant
- Malaysia Approves a 30% Renewable Energy Minimum for Data Centres
Follow @tsnmediahub on X for breaking AI news as it happens.
Follow on X
