In wooing Google, Premier points out abundance of renewable energy, water in Sarawak for data centres to thrive

KUCHING (Oct 22): Sarawak has the advantage of having renewal energy and water in abundance, which would enable the data centre industry to thrive in the state, said the Premier.

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg noted that data centres need sufficient and reliable supply of energy and water as a cooling agent to enable them to function smoothly.

“You asked me if Google can go to Sarawak, it depends on you (Google). It’s not up to us to decide because basically what you want is the bottom line.

“If you can have the bottom line more in Sarawak, why not come to Sarawak?” he said at a luncheon jointly hosted by digital technology solutions provider Accenture and Google Singapore yesterday on the sidelines of the weeklong Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) Summit.

Sarawak currently has one Tier IV data centre located in Santubong, which was launched in 2022 and operated by PP Telecommunication Sdn Bhd.

During the recent International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (Idecs) 2024, Aizo Group Bhd inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NetRunner Sdn Bhd to jointly establish a Tier IV data centre hub in the state to meet an increasing demand for secure and reliable data storage and processing facilities.

Abang Johari acknowledged that while places such as Singapore enjoyed an advantage in the growth of data centres, Sarawak’s location would not be a problem with connectivity.

“Your operation can be in Sarawak but you may work from other parts of the world if there’s good connectivity,” he said.

Abang Johari later met with Singapore Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and Education Minister Chan Chun Sing.

Earlier, he had a meeting with Richard Lochhead, Minister for Business of the Scottish Government, and Deputy Minister (Energy) at the Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei Dato Seri Paduka Awang Mohamad Azmi Mohd Hanifah.

Upon arrival at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in the morning, the Premier was interviewed by CNBC and later delivered his keynote address as well as launched the Sarawak Energy booth.

In the evening, he and key members of his entourage were guests at a dinner hosted by Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng.