Malaysia courts new data centers in bid to be next Southeast Asia hub

Cheap prices, tax breaks aid push to replicate neighboring Singapore's success

GDS Holdings last month began operating in Malaysia its first data center outside its home country China. (Photo courtesy of GDS)

FUMIKA SATO, Nikkei staff writer

October 14, 2023 05:24 JST

SINGAPORE -- With Singapore putting the brakes on new data centers, Malaysia is wooing investments with tax breaks and other perks to become the region's next big data hub.

Located a 30-minute drive from the Singaporean border, Iskandar Puteri in Malaysia's southern Johor state has emerged as a hot spot for new data center construction.