DUBAI: Fahmi Fadzil believes that Malaysia will continue to grow as a preferred destination for data centre development due to its strategic location, infrastructure, stability, and government support. The Communications and Digital Minister stated that the government’s support not only encourages foreign investments but also showcases the nation’s commitment to fostering innovation and technological advancements in the digital age. According to Fahmi, Malaysia’s political stability and well-established legal framework, such as the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, provide a secure environment that strengthens its appeal for data centre investments. He expressed these views during the C-Suite Roundtable Session with Investors of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, held during the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) Global 2023.
Fahmi emphasized that the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) will play a vital role in enhancing collaboration between corporations and positioning Malaysia as the gateway for digital economies in the ASEAN region. He stated that Malaysia welcomes collaboration in all digital economy-related fields and highlighted the promising growth potential in data centres and cloud centres, with numerous major investment opportunities. Fahmi added that Malaysia not only encourages businesses but also facilitates them, with his role being to facilitate, accelerate, and ensure that Malaysia becomes a partner and a home for investors.
The roundtable discussion was attended by 33 delegates from Russia, the United States, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, Singapore, Belarus, and Spain. Following the roundtable session, Fahmi paid a courtesy call on UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Application, Omar Sultan Al Olama, to further discuss digital initiatives. Malaysia expressed its willingness to collaborate with the UAE in data protection, particularly in aligning technological advancements in artificial intelligence with legislation and guidelines regarding personal data privacy and protection, such as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2018.
During the 15-minute discussion, both ministers explored potential trade collaborations between the two countries in the digital economy and data centre sector. Fahmi noted that the UAE and Malaysia complement each other in terms of bridging digital economy infrastructures. He also extended an invitation to Omar to visit Malaysia and gain a better understanding of the country’s digital growth and explore potential collaborations.
On the sidelines of the bilateral meeting, Omar fondly recalled celebrating his 10th birthday at Sunway Lagoon in Subang Jaya, Selangor, in 2000. – Bernama
