SoftBank's Masayoshi Son plans $50 billion for AI and data centers in Malaysia, Anwar says
Malaysia's PM says a top investor, reportedly SoftBank's Son, picked Malaysia for $50B in AI and data centers. SoftBank hasn't confirmed.
The skim
- Malaysia's prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, says a top global investor plans to put $50 billion into AI, new technology and data centers in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
- Bloomberg and Nikkei Asia identify the investor as SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son. SoftBank hasn't confirmed the figure.
- If it happens, it would be one of the region's biggest tech bets and would push Malaysia further up the list of AI data center hubs.
What happened
In a speech in Melaka on Saturday, Anwar said "one of the world's largest investors" had told him on a video call the previous Tuesday that he had chosen Kuching, in Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia for a $50 billion investment, The Star reports. "In which sectors? AI, new technology and data centre," he said, adding that it would mean better job opportunities for young Malaysians.
Bloomberg and Nikkei Asia report that the investor is SoftBank's Son. SoftBank didn't immediately respond to Bloomberg's request for comment, and no timeline, structure or partners have been announced.
Why it matters
There's already groundwork. On Oct. 8, SoftBank, ride-hailing giant Grab and state energy company Petroleum Sarawak (PETROS) signed a framework agreement to explore an AI and digital infrastructure platform in Sarawak, covering AI compute, robotics and workforce development. That deal is explicitly non-binding, and nothing ties it to the $50 billion figure yet.
Malaysia has become one of Asia's busiest data center markets, drawing Amazon, Microsoft and Google. It recorded 385.7 billion ringgit (about $94 billion) in data-center-related investment from 2021 through the first half of 2026, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, as cited by Bloomberg. The government wants more than server halls, though: it's pushing operators to use local suppliers and build higher-skilled jobs, with a goal of becoming an "AI nation" by 2030.
For SoftBank, Malaysia would add to an already enormous AI infrastructure bet that includes projects in the US and France, per Bloomberg. Son is known for huge headline numbers, and announced figures often turn into phased commitments that depend on partners, power and financing.
What's next
Watch for SoftBank to confirm the plan and say how much of the $50 billion is its own money, where the power will come from, and whether it builds on the Sarawak deal with Grab and PETROS. Until then, this is a prime minister's announcement, not a signed contract.
Sources: The Star, Bloomberg via The Business Times, Nikkei Asia and SoftBank Group.
