KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's digital investments under the Malaysia Digital (MD) national strategic initiative surged by 125 percent to 29.47 billion ringgit (6.95 billion U.S. dollars) in the second quarter from the first quarter, underpinned by strong data center and cloud demand, official data showed Monday.
The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) said in a statement that as of June 2025, a total of 261 companies approved under the MD initiative have collectively committed 42.58 billion ringgit in investments, with the potential to generate 17,495 knowledge workers over the next five years.
Leading the investment landscape is the data center and cloud vertical, which contributed 30.95 billion ringgit and is expected to generate 1,440 knowledge workers due to strong demand for regional data infrastructure.
Notably, data center companies alone committed 13.45 billion ringgit, highlighting investor confidence in Malaysia's digital infrastructure and regional connectivity.
Other high-growth sectors include artificial intelligence, which attracted 3.29 billion ringgit in investments, with an estimated 6,920 jobs created, representing 40 percent of the total projected employment.
Meanwhile, global business services, with investment amounting to 4.99 billion ringgit, is expected to create 5,632 jobs, or 32 percent of total job creation.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo described the strong upward momentum as "exceptional growth which speaks volumes about our nation's digital readiness, the strength of our innovation ecosystem, and the confidence that global investors have in Malaysia's future."
"Beyond numbers, these investments represent thousands of opportunities for the Malaysian workforce and a long-term uplift for our digital economy. The MD initiative is a proven platform to drive inclusive innovation and elevate our regional leadership in the digital space," he added. (1 ringgit equals 0.24 U.S. dollars) ■
