12/02/2026

THURSDAY | FEB 12, 2026

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Johor residents raise concerns over data centre construction

S’wak offer to raise pig exports to Selangor KUCHING: Sarawak is ready to scale up its export of live pigs to Selangor following the recent decision by the Sultan of Selangor to prohibit pig farming in the state. Sarawak Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the state has been exporting live pigs to Selangor since last year. “We are also open to supplying to other states that wish to import.” When asked whether the state government plans to expand or further modernise the pig farming industry, he said it currently has a few smallholder pig farms. “We also have three large modern pig farms located in the Simunjan, Ensengei and Selangau areas.” Earlier, it was reported that the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has not granted permission for pig farming to be carried out in any district in Selangor due to the risk of pollution that could adversely affect surrounding communities. The Sultan’s private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani said His Royal Highness is of the view that pig farming could lead to air pollution through foul odours, as well as contaminate river water sources due to the discharge of animal waste and effluent. Mohamad Munir said the Sultan recommended that the government consider issuing pork import licences to meet the needs of non-Muslims, particularly the Chinese community in Selangor. He also said the approach could help resolve the long-standing pig farming issue while allowing the Selangor government to optimise land use for other purposes, such as development and housing. – Bernama management remains safe and effective. On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, said cloud seeding operations would be carried out in Johor, Kedah and Perak until Sunday, including at the Bukit Merah Dam. – Bernama and are technically competent, practice-oriented and ready to enter factories.” At the event, he also witnessed the exchange of 27 memoranda of understanding and agreements between MTUN and industry partners, and the presentation of endowment contributions from industry players to MTUN institutions. – Bernama

irrigation needs. Mohammad Nizar emphasised that continuous monitoring and prudent water release management are crucial to ensure the irrigation supply could be sustained for a longer period. He also expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the dam and irrigation teams in ensuring its with current industry requirements. He added that MTUN, a consortium of the country’s technical universities, has produced graduates with broad knowledge and industry demand. “MTUN is unique in that it was established to produce graduates grounded in applied knowledge. “They put into practice what they learn, particularly in manufacturing, and Ireland, which prompted governments to tighten approvals once utilities came under strain, immediately affecting land values. “From a property perspective, water availability is becoming a de facto planning control, much like plot ratio or setback requirements. “Projects that exceed utility thresholds face redesign, delay or relocation.” He also said energy is equally critical, adding that as continuous, large-scale power users, data centres put pressure on grid capacity and reliability. “Developments incorporating energy efficiency, redundancy or on site solutions are better positioned to secure approvals and financing.” Muhammad Najib said the data centre boom is driving a strategic pivot for developers. “Value creation is shifting away from raw land banking toward infrastructure-integrated real estate. “Master-planned parks that bundle land with water solutions, energy resilience and regulatory alignment are increasingly favoured.” He added that for investors and lenders, due diligence now extends beyond title and zoning to long-term utility agreements and stress testing against potential policy changes. “For Johor, the data centre boom promises jobs, digital ecosystem growth and sustained foreign capital inflows. “But policymakers must ensure these gains do not come at the expense of water security or grid reliability. Growth would continue but it would be channelled toward projects that could expand without drawing disproportionately on public utilities. “In this environment, water and energy are no longer background infrastructure issues. They are emerging as determinants of land value, development timing and investment risk.”

o Energy, water supply must be managed to protect public: Academic

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

water supply. While data centres generate jobs, attract foreign capital and stimulate construction, engineering and digital ecosystems, they also consume vast amounts of electricity and cooling water – resources shared with households and other industries. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia property economics and finance expert Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Najib Razali said demand for data centres remains strong because they anchor foreign direct investment and boost industrial land values. “Even from a real-estate perspective, data centres have driven

strong demand for large-format industrial land, pushed up prices in selected corridors and encouraged the rise of master-planned industrial parks.” However, the dynamics are changing. “The question is no longer just whether land is zoned for data centres but whether it could be supported by long-term utility certainty.” Johor currently hosts 15 operational data centres, with dozens more under development, according to media reports. Muhammad Najib said regulators are signalling that water and energy allocations must now be carefully managed to protect residential and essential industrial users. “Treated water and grid power are no longer assumed to be available on demand. “They are becoming conditional inputs, subject to caps, efficiency requirements and policy scrutiny.” The impact on real estate is immediate. “Industrial land that could demonstrate utility readiness such as access to alternative water sources, reclaimed water systems, on-site recycling or enhanced energy efficiency are becoming more valuable and bankable. “The sites face fewer delays, clearer permitting pathways and stronger interest from hyperscalers and institutional investors. “In contrast, land that relies entirely on municipal water or standard grid connections faces greater uncertainty, even if well-located.” He said similar pressures have already affected other markets, citing rapid data centre expansion in countries such as the Netherlands

PETALING JAYA: Johor’s data centre boom, long a magnet for foreign investment, is clashing with reality as residents protest over dust and fears of water shortages, the first demonstration of its kind in Malaysia. The protest, staged outside a data centre construction site last weekend, reflects growing unease over the sector’s impact on local utilities. Residents alleged that construction activities had caused dust pollution and raised concerns about potential strain on the state’s

Muhammad Najib said policymakers must ensure gains from data centres do not come at the expense of water security or grid reliability. – AI IMAGE GENERATED BY SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

Water level at Bukit Merah Dam reaches critical status IPOH: The water level at the Bukit Merah Dam has reached Stage Three Irrigation Critical Status, with the current reservoir level recorded at 6.294 metres. metres, equivalent to 17.22% of its total capacity. He said no rainfall was recorded in the past 24 hours and weather conditions at the dam were clear. “For dam gate operations, one gate is opened at 3% (73mm),” he said in a statement yesterday. He added that the spillway remains closed as the water level is well below the overflow threshold.

For irrigation intake, the discharge rate is 0.566 cubic metres per second to Terusan Besar and 6.230 cubic metres per second to Terusan Selinsing, in line with current

Perak Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the water at the dam stands at 9.3825 million cubic

controlled water release through the outlet gate is ongoing. At Terusan Selinsing, two gates are opened at 20% (488mm), while at Terusan Besar

Higher education institutions must strengthen industry partnerships: Minister PUTRAJAYA: Higher Education

He cited Universiti Sains Malaysia, which has emerged as a development hub for the semiconductor industry by integrating expertise from both industry and academia. He was speaking to reporters after officiating at the MTUN Academia Industry Conference yesterday. Zambry said campus-based learning models are no longer aligned

longer optional but essential to ensure graduates meet job market demands and support the country’s industrial agenda. “The call to foster strong ties between industry and universities is not limited to the Malaysia Technical University Network (MTUN) or technical institutions alone. It involves all public universities in the country.”

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said higher education institutions must establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with industry players to ensure the ecosystem in the sector remains relevant and aligned with national development needs. He said such collaboration is no