Most of the local news media have quoted Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi saying that Google is interested in setting up a base in Malaysia.  Apparently, Google CEO Eric Schmidt met with our Prime Minister at the World Economic  Forum in Davos and expressed interest in expanding its mighty reach to our humble shores.  Malaysiakini (subscription required) further reports Abdullah stating that Malaysia's policies "are supportive of the company's (Google's) activities".  While we don't know exactly what he meant by "Malaysia's policies", we could presume he meant our focus on ICT growth.  

The question then becomes what sort of presence does Google intend to set up?  In the South East Asia region, Google already has an ad office in Singapore, which, when opened, was supposed to represent the entire region including Malaysia.  When opening its Singapore office, Google also stated that Singapore's environment is very conducive to business and that the government's support was vital.  

Further south, Google has a larger presence in Australia where its Sydney offices houses Sales, Support, Systems Operations, Engineering and more.  It also has a sales office in Melbourne.  Google's Sydney office is its base for the Asia-Pacific region.

Therefore, the question remains - What role does (could) Malaysia have for Google, and is it all just hot air?   Are our policies really any good?

Name: KL Mouse	Comment: I work in Cyberjaya, supposingly the Multimedia Super Corridor. I have been working there half a year ago, and our office streamyx have down-time for at least 3 times already. The TM net office just around the corner from our office but call them to send tech staff to check our connection? They say "tunggu 48 jam". How to support giants like Google?
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-02-21 00:06:57

Name: Kamal Talib	Comment: This is good news indeed , google is destined to be the best search engine in the world. Thanks Webmaster klfad.com
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-02-08 13:23:22

Name: tm	Comment: A little bird said. They nego with TM. They need a place bigger than Cyberjaya. So other choice will be Nilai. Need at least 500gig of line from TM. By 2009. If TM can give lower cost than singapore. Then you can start prepare your resume. Dont shoot me, shoot the little bird who told me.
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-02-04 11:00:24

Name: Setanselatan	Comment: Woooa.. That's a news... AIMS-CFS got their attention then... Hmm ... How many megawatts are they asking... I know the place has ample of space... But power is a big issue to them... Maybe a froogle search engine will be there then...
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-30 10:54:04

Name: Peacekeeper

Comment: I hope it is really happening some time in the future...btw, apartheid? u got to be kidding me dude...u should read more and make research first b4 u guys could criticize any issues...duh..i dunno y ppl like to emphasize this issue...y not we just find the solutions not just worsen the situation ok...I think Malaysian ppl loves to criticize instead of finding the solutions for any problems, I guess so...peace no war!!!

Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-30 00:23:58

Name: ohhyeahhh	Comment: Google are coming to cyberjaya .. they're going to rent a building in front of the Cyberjaya Fire Station.
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-29 22:46:13

Name: J	Comment: Full of passive & negative people. Bad article!
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-29 15:36:57

Name: Tadaaa	Comment: Multimedia supercoridor is just a name....
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-28 14:29:49

Name: bzz	Comment: My friend who work at a unit which supply leased line and fiber connection at TM. Said that google already ask a quotation from TM. And nego if TM can give them a speacial price. But for what purpose, my friend don't know. But she believe, the volume they ask is very-very high.
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-28 11:13:50

Name: Jason	Comment: Unless we have 1.7 billion (100,000 more) people living in our country under opression. Other than that, its a waste of time for Google. Microsoft's on their heels anyway.
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-28 10:09:48

Name: biosfree	Comment: i think, this will be a milestone for malaysia economy to growth in some other aspect,which ppl say 'declining', i cant say malaysia's policy is good to make investment but it's far more better from other developing country, (take note SEA country. at least there's topic arise saying google will be here as wat can we say......better late than never...adios!! hemmm wait n see!
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-28 08:21:23

Name: Want to believe	Comment: LYN reporters, to find out if this is true, why not email to Google's Media and Press Relations at or call +1.650.930.3555 to request a comment. Just make sure you present your press credentials in your email.
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-27 18:56:23

Name: Setanselatan	Comment: Well unfortunately I have met with Google in Hong Kong for sales pitch... Malaysia wasn't their destination... Google might want to set a small Cisco load balancer for traffic re-direction but to place Servers in Malaysia will be a long shot... I doubt that's gonna change...
Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-27 17:12:33

Name: Transporter

Comment: Obviously our PM is just trying to stir some interest in Malaysia's declining economy. Good policies? What good policies? You mean an official policy of apartheid and state racism? Of benefiting those who know people in high places? A policy of preferring skin color over merit? If I were the CEO of Google, looking through the bad press that this country has gotten in recent months, I'll also be thinking twice about setting up any major operation in Malaysia. Maybe Google might just set up a sales office to sell their Google Search Appliance, which they've been promoting to system integrators a few months back.

Rated Article: Posted: 2008-01-27 14:32:24

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