KUANTAN: The Pahang government plans to mirror the efforts of Kuala Lumpur and Johor by attracting participants from the data centre industry to invest in the state.
State investment, industry, science, technology and innovation committee chairman Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib highlighted the potential of the industry and emphasised that Pahang should not miss out on the sector’s opportunities to drive the state’s economy.
"We will assess the number of investment proposals from data centre companies. However, Pahang's involvement may not match the level of the Klang Valley and Johor, which have each attracted between 40 and 50 data centres.
"This caution is due to concerns about the supply of water and electricity, as data centres consume significant amounts of these resources. Additionally, robust fibre optic infrastructure is essential," he explained during the "My Digital Tour (JSD) @ Kuantan and Pahang Technology Revolution Expo (TReX) 2024".
Also present was Amiruddin Abdul Shukor, head of corporate services at the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).
MDEC has identified several locations in Pahang, including Kuantan, Gambang, and Bentong, as suitable for meeting the conditions needed for data centre development.
"The development of data centres must ensure that people still receive adequate basic facilities," said Nizar.
He also urged MDEC to assist the state government in attracting more digital nomad workers — those who rely heavily on technology and live a nomadic lifestyle while working remotely — to choose Pahang as their base.
He pointed out that Pahang offers attractive locations such as Cameron Highlands, Fraser’s Hill, and Janda Baik in Bentong, which could help boost the state's economy.
"Whether individuals are digital nomad workers, digital entrepreneurs, vloggers, TikTokers, or YouTubers, they can work remotely from here," he noted.
Amiruddin expressed MDEC's readiness to support Pahang in attracting investments from the data centre industry, as it falls within the agency's remit.
"When it comes to investment, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) will take the lead, but MDEC is involved because it pertains to our activities and ecosystem.
"One successful collaboration is the green data centre in Sedenak, Johor, and more recently, we've been asked by the Premier of Sarawak to assist in developing a data centre there," he added. – Bernama
