by AKMAR ANNUAR / pic credit: YTL data centre

YTL Data Centre Holdings Pte Ltd and Sea Ltd had a ground-breaking ceremony for the development of the Sea Data Centre, the first phase of the 500MW YTL Green Data Centre Park in Johor today.

This is part of an RM1.5 billion investment in Johor by YTL Power International Bhd. The YTL Green Data Centre Park will be the largest of its kind regionally, spearheading Johor’s position as a world-class data hub.

The first phase is a Tier-III certified facility equipped with green power and connectivity which will be able to accommodate up to 72MW of capacity.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said as Johor has grown exponentially over the past few years, the state welcomes green and sustainable projects that will boost its economy.

“This project will also provide employment opportunities that will attract diverse multiskilled talents to the state, making Johor attractive to foreign direct investments,” he said when officiating the ceremony.

Also present were representatives from various state and federal organisations, including the Iskandar Regional Development Authority and Tenaga Nasional Bhd, as well as Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) deputy CEO Lim Bee Vian.

Lim believed that companies today are strongly encouraged to embrace digitalisation to enable businesses to innovate.

“The establishment of such data centres here will push industry aspirations further.

“Malaysia’s vision of becoming Asia’s digital capital with high sustainability is realised, with the combined efforts from the government through the MyDigital blueprint and the establishment of the Digital Investment Office,” she said.

Aimed to complete by the first quarter of 2024, the three-storey green building will feature 24 data hall suites, M&E rooms, office space, storage and parking facilities.

Sea’s co-founder and group COO Gang Ye said YTL strives to meet the infrastructure, power, and connectivity needs of its operations in the region, with the Johor government and Mida as its key expansion partners.

“We are committed to investing in the growth of the digital economy in Malaysia, and in Johor in particular, and contributing to Malaysia’s Digital Economy Agenda,” he added.

Meanwhile, YTL Power MD Datuk Yeoh Seok Hong expressed his gratitude for the partnerships made with its subsidiary companies and looked forward to seeing YTL Green Data Centre becoming a catalyst for the digital infrastructure in Johor.

“Not only will it transform Johor’s economy by tapping into new high-growth areas, but it is also expected to spur the local economy and further improve the social wellbeing and quality of life for Malaysians,” he said.

In April 2022, YTL Data Centre announced the development of the 111.29ha data centre campus in Kulai, Johor, which is the largest in Malaysia.