KUALA LUMPUR: Mah Sing Group Bhd
makes its maiden entry into the data centre sector by launching Mah Sing DC Hub@Southville City, partnering with Bridge Data Centres (BDC), a company primarily owned by Bain Capital.
The developer has earmarked 150 acres of land bank at Southville City for further expansion into a leading Data Centre Hub with planned capacity of up to 500MW.
While this is Mah Sing’s initial venture into the data centre sector, the collaboration with BDC on the initial 17.55 acres of land for a data centre with planned capacity of up to 100MW is just the beginning, it said in a statement.
“Mah Sing envisions Mah Sing DC Hub@ Southville City as a holistic digital infrastructure ecosystem, meticulously designed to accommodate the demands of AI, hyperscale, retail, and enterprise service providers. This state-of-the-art facility specifically engineered to support cutting-edge applications like AI computation and large-scale data storage,” the developer said.
For this first partnership, Mah Sing will contribute and reserve 17.55 acres land for this data centre with planned capacity of up to 100MW. This partnership will design and develop the data centre facilities and infrastructure, including securing necessary approvals and planning permission.
Located just 19 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Southville City is a mature township equipped with the essential infrastructure to support this major development.
Mah Sing DC Hub@Southville City is less than 50km from Telekom Malaysia’s (TM) upcoming new cable landing station in Morib, Selangor for the SEA-ME-WE-6 submarine cable system which will provide TM with one of the lowest latency routes connecting Malaysia with the rest of the world.
With this proximity, Mah Sing DC Hub@Southville City will be able to provide dark fiber network for the data centre hub. Expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025, TM’s Morib landing station will be a key landing site for Malaysia.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said this joint venture initiative between Mah Sing and BDC aligned with Malaysia's digital transformation agenda and economic growth, reinforcing the nation's position as a prime location for data centre investment in the Asia Pacific region.
“It also reflects the strong confidence and trust that investors have in our strategic and supportive environment. The establishment of a cutting-edge data centre in Southville City will meet the growing demand for digital infrastructure, positioning Malaysia as the digital hub of Asean,” he said.
BDC president Eric Fan expressed confidence in the collaboration. He believes the comprehensive approach provided by Mah Sing will ensure that the data centre will meet all regulatory requirements and be built to the highest standards, facilitating the creation of a state-of-the-art data centre.
“With Southville City’s locational advantage for data centres, we are confident of end users’ interest. We can harness Malaysia’s superior infrastructure, skilled workforce, and prime geographic location to offer top-tier data centre services. This initiative not only boosts our operational capabilities but also highlights Malaysia’s increasing significance as a digital hub in the Asia Pacific region.”
Meanwhile, Mah Sing founder and group managing director Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum entering the data centre market allows the group to establish recurring income, crucial for a more resilient financial foundation amidst market fluctuations.
“This emphasis on expanding recurring income aims to build a sustainable and recession-resistant business model, mitigating risks associated with property development cyclicality. Beyond Southville City, Mah Sing’s other landbanks, such as MSS Business Park in Sepang, Selangor, which is also close to TM’s upcoming new cable landing station in Morib, present potential for similar data centre collaborations. This expansion underscores our commitment to leveraging our assets for long-term growth and recurring income opportunities.
“As we continue to innovate in property development and expanding our footprint in the data centre industry, we are exploring the immense opportunity of artificial intelligence and IOT to enhance our business and deliver value to our stakeholders.”
