15/09/2026

BIZ & FINANCE TUESDAY | SEPT 15, 2026

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Data centres – Mida looks beyond numbers

BANGKOK: Malaysia and Thailand yesterday strengthened their energy partnership with the signing of a new production sharing contract (PSC) and gas sale agreement (GSA) for Block A 18-01 in the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area (MTJDA). Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, who is on a two-day working visit to Thailand, said the agreements, signed in conjunction with Gastech 2026 here, would ensure continuity in the development of the block while reinforcing investor confidence and supporting the energy security of both countries. Akmal Nasrullah said the move came at an important time as natural gas continued to play a major role in Malaysia’s energy system and socioeconomic growth, with the fuel projected to account for 56% of the country’s total primary energy supply by 2050. “The priority is to ensure that energy resource development continues to attract investment and is KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) is strengthening the broader ecosystem around Malaysia’s data centre industry to help local com panies build capabilities and parti cipate in areas including engineering, construction, electrical systems, cooling, telecommunications, cyber security and logistics. Mida chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the opportunity extends beyond the physical development of data centres to the wider economic spillovers that can be built around them. “Data centres are a critical driver of our digital and compute economy, but their true measure of success lies well beyond the data halls them selves. “Attracting investment was only ever the first step. Our responsibility now is to build an industry that is sustainable, inclusive and enduring,” he said in a statement released in conjunction with Data Centre Nexus 2026 (DCN 2026) yesterday. Tengku Zafrul said Malaysia would ultimately measure its success not by the scale of investment attracted but by the value built around it, including stronger Malaysian businesses, deeper local capabilities and lasting opportunities for Malaysians. Meanwhile, Mida CEO Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said the agency’s focus is increasingly centred on building an ecosystem that can capture greater value from the sector’s growth. “This year, we are not only asking how we grow the industry, but how we create lasting value for Malaysia. “Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing at a remarkable pace, and it rests on a foundation of computing

PSC and GSA for Block B-17-01, as we continue to unlock the full potential of MTJDA for the benefit of both nations,” he said. Akmal Nasrullah also said Malaysia looked to industry partners and contractors to bring the capital, technology, expertise and long-term commitment needed to develop the resource in a commercially viable and responsible manner. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Thai Energy Minister Akanat Promphan and Akmal witnessed the signing ceremony. Meanwhile, Akanat Nasrullah described the MTJDA as a successful model of bilateral cooperation built on trust and shared interests, saying the new agreements marked another important phase in Malaysia-Thailand energy cooperation. He said the initiative had the potential to stimulate investment, support sustainable development and contribute to shared prosperity. – Bernama with 17 supply chain companies. Among the ecosystem companies participating in DCN 2026 are critical equipment manufacturers such as Panasonic, Delta Electronics, Dun ham-Bush, Powerwell International and Cipta Industrial. Service providers across the data centre value chain included Gading Kencana, Ancom Energy, Northern Solar and Ditrolic Energy. This year’s programme also featured a session on developing Malaysia’s data centre supply chain and industrial ecosystem, bringing together Cipta Industrial, Powerwell Holdings Bhd and Delta Electronics Solutions to discuss opportunities for Malaysian manufacturers to streng then their capabilities in supporting the industry. Mida said this year’s programme focused on four strategic pillars, comprising AI-driven digital infra structure, sustainable and resource efficient infrastructure, local eco system and industrial spillovers, and digital technology accessibility. “The local ecosystem and in dustrial spillover pillar focuses on strengthening domestic supply chains, creating skilled jobs and enabling Malaysian companies to build capabilities across the digital infrastructure value chain.

supported by industry capabilities that can create sustained value. “Certainty, continuity and confidence are essential to unlock investment, sustain production and secure long-term value,”he said in a statement. The Block A-18-01 PSC was entered into by Malaysia-Thailand Joint Authority (MTJA), PC JDA Limited and PTTEP JDX, while the GSA also involves Petrloliam Nasional Bhd and PTT Public Co Ltd. Akmal Nasrullah said the progress achieved through Block A-18-01 provided a strong foundation for the continued development of the MTJDA, which represents nearly five decades of cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand. He said the momentum from the latest agreements should pave the way for the next phase, involving the development of a new PSC and GSA for Block B-17-01. “The momentum created today (yesterday) should pave the way for the next phase of developing a new o Authority aims to strengthen ecosystem surrounding industry to make it competitive, innovative, sustainable power and digital infrastructure – yet that growth must be matched by responsibility in how carefully we manage our energy, water and land, and in the capabilities we build here at home.” Sikh Shamsul said Mida does not merely want more data centres in Malaysia but an ecosystem that is competitive, innovative and sus tainable. Mida said DCN 2026 will see dedicated business matching sessions to strengthen linkages be tween global players and Malaysian businesses by connecting 14 data centre companies with 51 local vendors to explore potential part nerships and supply chain oppor tunities. It said this expanded on the inaugural DCN in 2025, which con nected eight data centre companies

Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim speaking at the opening of Data Centre Nexus 2026 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Driven Digital Infrastructure and Sustainable Ecosystems”, DCN 2026 brought together data centre operators, technology companies, government agencies, financial institutions and Malaysian supply chain companies to discuss the next phase of Malaysia’s evolving data centre ecosystem. – Bernama

“The programme also explored energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, water stewardship and responsible data centre operations, as well as ways to expand cloud and digital technology adoption among businesses and communities.” Held for the second consecutive year under the theme “Advancing AI

Malaysia, Thailand strengthen energy ties with fresh MTJDA agreements

Affin Hwang Investment, Eurex expand access to European futures

KUALA LUMPUR: Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd has partnered with the European derivatives exchange, Eurex, to expand its foreign futures offering, providing clients in Malaysia with a local pathway to European market exposure. Affin Hwang Investment CEO Hanif Ghulam Mohammed said European markets offer distinct sources of equity, interest rate and volatility exposure, allowing in vestors to diversify their portfolios and manage risks more effec tively. “Being the first bank to launch this, our collaboration with the Eurex allows us to offer our clients diversified products and a wider range of investment assets,” he told reporters after the launch of the Eurex Futures here yesterday. Hanif said the growing impact of global and geopolitical risks on local markets underscores the impor tance of portfolio diversification. He said developments overseas,

including in West Asia and the United States, could have a direct impact on Malaysian markets and investors’ portfolios. “Eurex gives the clients oppor tunities to broaden their investment portfolio into European stock exchanges or European government bonds, and it helps manage their risk and avoid being overly con centrated in Malaysian or Asian markets,” he said. Meanwhile, Eurex head of Asia Pacific sales Mathieu Fuhrmann said that as investors look to broaden their portfolios beyond domestic and US markets, access to European and global benchmarks is becoming increasingly important. “Our partnership with Affin Hwang provides eligible Malaysian investors with a local gateway to Eurex’s derivatives marketplace, offering additional tools to diversify exposures, manage risk and capitalise on opportunities across global markets,” he added. – Bernama

Plantation sector leads net foreign inflow into Bursa with RM117m KUALA LUMPUR: Plantation,

consecutive

weeks,

recording

RM207.1 million, was recorded on Friday,” it said. In addition, local institutions ended a six-week consecutive net buying streak, recording RM127.4 million in net outflows. Meanwhile, retailers extended their net buying streak to three

said in its weekly Fund Flow Report for the week ended Sept 11. “Foreign institutions remained net sellers for the sixth consecutive week, recording RM160.3 million in net outflows, being net sellers on three out of five trading days during the week. The largest outflow, totalling

inflows at RM117 million, followed by healthcare at RM101.5 million and consumer products and services at RM45.2 million. Conversely, the financial services, construction, and technology sectors recorded combined net foreign outflows of RM333.8 million, MBSB IB

RM287.7 million in net inflows. It noted that the average daily trading volume saw a broad-based decrease, with retailers down by 6.4%, local institutions by 9.6%, and foreign institutions by 20.2%. – Bernama

healthcare as well as consumer products and services sectors attracted a combined net foreign inflow of RM263.7 million into Bursa Malaysia last week, according to MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB). It said the plantation sector led the