Google plans $15bn for Malaysian data centers in 2027-28

By Elena Vasquez

Google plans to invest $15 billion in Malaysian data centers during 2027 and 2028, according to Bloomberg, funding new computing hubs and associated water and power infrastructure. The commitment gives suppliers a two-year build window across Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, although Google has disclosed limited technical detail.

Where does the $15 billion go?

The program centers on Google’s existing campus in Elmina Business Park, Selangor, and includes new campuses in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. Construction would run through 2027 and 2028.

• Existing Selangor campus: Google broke ground at Elmina Business Park in October 2024. Google expects the first phase, with 100MW of capacity, to reach completion sometime this year.
• Port Dickson site: Google bought 389 acres in Negeri Sembilan in May last year for a planned data center. The site lies about 90km (55.9 miles) south of Kuala Lumpur, on the banks of the Strait of Malacca.
• Reported capacity and contractor: The Port Dickson data center would have capacity between 500MW and 1GW. Gamuda Engineering will handle the engineering and infrastructure works.

On a simple capacity basis, that range equals five to ten times the 100MW first phase at Elmina. The figure remains a reported range, not a final project specification.

What do the power and water commitments cover?

Google says its expanding data-center footprint will require additional energy capacity and will help push Malaysia’s clean-energy transition. In total, the company plans to bring 1GW of clean energy capacity to Malaysia’s grid.

Earlier this week, Google committed $160 million to develop shared water infrastructure in Negeri Sembilan, supporting the planned regional data center. The $15 billion pledge builds on Google’s 2024 commitment to invest $2 billion in Malaysia, while the new package funds computing hubs and utility infrastructure during 2027 and 2028.

The disclosed scope extends beyond computing-hub buildings to power and water systems. Google has not published a project-by-project allocation of the $15 billion, leaving spending by site and system undisclosed.

How much employment is expected?

The projects are expected to support more than 9,000 local jobs a year. The estimate includes roles such as:

• Technicians
• Mechanical and electrical engineers
• Logistics
• Security managers

The annual basis makes staffing and site services relevant alongside construction work, rather than limiting supplier opportunities to the build phase. Google has not specified hiring dates or contract allocations, and the job figure remains an estimate.

Why do Google and Malaysia support the buildout?

Ruth Porat, Alphabet’s chief investment officer, said the investment “reflects our confidence in the strength of Malaysia’s leadership, its skilled workforce, and enthusiasm for digital transformation.” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim added: “Our nation possesses the stability, the talent, and the ambition to be a premier digital powerhouse in Southeast Asia.”

Porat’s workforce claim connects directly with the more-than-9,000-job estimate, while Ibrahim’s stability reference matters for infrastructure projects scheduled to run two years. For local suppliers, the practical test is whether Google converts the pledge into site-level procurement schedules, which it has yet to publish.