Microsoft first announced plans of establishing a cloud region in Malaysia back in 2021 in the Greater Kuala Lumpur. Now, the company has made another announcement regarding said cloud region. It is officially known as the Malaysia West cloud region, and it will be going live as soon as the second quarter of the year.
The new cloud region consists of three data centres, a number which Microsoft says is needed to ensure its resilience. During a briefing for members of the press earlier today, the company says that the new cloud region will also meet local data residency requirements, keeping data of Malaysian users within the country, as well as being compliant to local and international regulations.
Microsoft cites findings from the International Data Corporation that the company, alongside its partners and customers, will have an “economic impact of US$10.9 billion” (~RM48.24 billion). Of the amount, the Malaysia West region is noted to contribute 16.9%. It will also be providing up to 37,575 jobs, be it through the company directly, or via its partners and customers.
Beyond launching the cloud region, Microsoft also reiterated commitments made prior, such as the US$2.2 billion (~RM9,73 billion) investment to empower cloud and AI. It also shared a number of sustainability commitments, such as being carbon negative and water positive, as well as zero waste, by 2030.
