SoftBank plans $50 billion AI and data center investment in Malaysia, PM says

Anwar says Masayoshi Son picked sites in Sarawak and peninsular Malaysia after video call

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

SoftBank Group plans to invest $50 billion in Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said, with the spending aimed at artificial intelligence, new technologies and data centers, according to a Bloomberg report.

SoftBank Group plans to make $50 billion of investments in Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said, according to a Bloomberg report.

Anwar said on Saturday that Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's chairman and chief executive officer, had identified locations in Kuching, Sarawak, and peninsular Malaysia for the planned investments, following a video conference between the two earlier in the week. The planned investments would focus on artificial intelligence, new technologies and data centers, the report said.

Malaysia has set its sights on becoming an "AI nation" by 2030, and the government launched a national AI action plan earlier this year to strengthen the country's AI capabilities and infrastructure.

Earlier this month, SoftBank signed a framework agreement with Singapore-based Grab and Malaysia's Petroleum Sarawak Berhad to explore AI and digital infrastructure development in Sarawak, including AI computing services and advanced technologies.

SoftBank is not alone in pursuing technology investments in Malaysia. Google announced a $2 billion investment in 2024 to build its first data center and cloud region in the country, Amazon Web Services said it planned to invest $6.2 billion through 2038, and Microsoft announced a $2.2 billion investment in cloud and AI infrastructure and other digital initiatives.

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority recorded 385.7 billion ringgit ($94 billion) in data center-related investments between 2021 and the first half of 2026.

SoftBank did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

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Announced technology investment in Malaysia by company

US$ billion

Planned or announced investments; timeframes and scope vary. Source: CNBC

Analysis

Why This Matters

The planned investment would be one of the largest single technology commitments in Malaysia and a major test of the country's ambition to become an "AI nation" by 2030.
Malaysia competes with other Southeast Asian economies for the data centers and computing capacity that are fuelling the global artificial intelligence buildout.
If confirmed, the spending would add to billions of dollars already pledged by Google, Amazon and Microsoft for Malaysian cloud and AI infrastructure.

Background

Malaysia has positioned itself as a regional hub for data centers and cloud computing in recent years, courting large technology companies as they expand computing capacity across Asia. The government's stated goal of becoming an "AI nation" by 2030 and its national AI action plan are part of that push. SoftBank is a Japanese investment and technology group that has been expanding its interests in AI and digital infrastructure across Southeast Asia, including a recent framework agreement for projects in Sarawak.

What to Watch

Whether SoftBank or the Malaysian government provides further detail on the $50 billion figure, including the timeline and split between Sarawak and peninsular Malaysia.
The fate of the framework agreement with Grab and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad, and whether it produces concrete AI projects.
Malaysia's data center investment figures, which the investment authority has put at 385.7 billion ringgit for 2021 to the first half of 2026, and how the SoftBank plans would add to them.

Sources

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedSoftBank plans a $50 billion investment in Malaysia focused on AI and data centers, according to the prime minister.US Top News and Analysis: “SoftBank Group plans to make $50 billion of investments in Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said, according to a Bloomberg report. ... The country's prime minister said the planned investments would focus on artificial intelligence, new technologies and data centers, according to the report.”
SupportedAnwar said Masayoshi Son picked sites in Sarawak and peninsular Malaysia after a video call.US Top News and Analysis: “Anwar said Saturday that Son had identified locations in Kuching, Sarawak, and peninsular Malaysia for the planned investments following a video conference between the two earlier in the week”
SupportedAnwar said SoftBank plans to make $50 billion of investments in Malaysia, according to Bloomberg.US Top News and Analysis: “SoftBank Group plans to make $50 billion of investments in Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said, according to a Bloomberg report.”
SupportedSon had identified investment locations in Kuching, Sarawak, and peninsular Malaysia after a video conference with Anwar earlier in the week.US Top News and Analysis: “Anwar said Saturday that Son had identified locations in Kuching, Sarawak, and peninsular Malaysia for the planned investments following a video conference between the two earlier in the week”
SupportedThe planned investments would focus on artificial intelligence, new technologies and data centers.US Top News and Analysis: “The country's prime minister said the planned investments would focus on artificial intelligence, new technologies and data centers, according to the report.”
SupportedMalaysia aims to become an “AI nation” by 2030.US Top News and Analysis: “The planned investment comes as Malaysia seeks to become an "AI nation " by 2030”
SupportedSoftBank signed a framework agreement with Grab and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad to explore AI and digital infrastructure development in Sarawak.US Top News and Analysis: “Earlier this month, SoftBank signed a framework agreement with Singapore-based Grab and Malaysia's Petroleum Sarawak Berhad to explore AI and digital infrastructure development in Sarawak, including AI computing services and advanced technologies.”
SupportedGoogle announced a $2 billion investment in 2024 to build its first data center and cloud region in Malaysia.US Top News and Analysis: “Google announced a $2 billion investment in 2024 to build its first data center and cloud region in the country”
SupportedAmazon Web Services said it planned to invest $6.2 billion through 2038.US Top News and Analysis: “Amazon Web Services said it planned to invest $6.2 billion through 2038.”
SupportedMicrosoft announced a $2.2 billion investment in cloud and AI infrastructure and other digital initiatives.US Top News and Analysis: “Microsoft also announced a $2.2 billion investment in cloud and AI infrastructure and other digital initiatives.”
SupportedData center-related investments in Malaysia totaled 385.7 billion ringgit ($94 billion) between 2021 and the first half of 2026, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.US Top News and Analysis: “The country recorded 385.7 billion ringgit ($94 billion) in data center-related investments between 2021 and the first half of 2026, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.”
SupportedSoftBank did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.US Top News and Analysis: “SoftBank did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.”