BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Enterprise Explores  >  Data Centres: Economic Enabler or Just Real Estate Hype?

Data Centres: Economic Enabler or Just Real Estate Hype?

Amy Wong, Executive Director of Research & Consultancy, Knight Frank Malaysia

23-Jan-25 12:00

Data Centres: Economic Enabler or Just Real Estate Hype?

Malaysia tops the Southeast Asia-5 Data Centre Opportunity Index yet again, clocking an impressive 429 MW in annual take-up—well ahead of Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. From subsea fibre connectivity and cloud availability zones to an influx of tech giants like Microsoft, AWS, Google, and Oracle, in this episode of Enterprise Explores, we dive into factors that cement Malaysia’s position as a digital infrastructure hub, why it matters and the whether data centres act as a true economic multiplier or if they’re primarily another property strategy.

Discover how Johor is rising as a data centre hub, explore other key regions, and learn about government measures—such as the Green Lane Pathway and updated planning guidelines—to streamline electricity supply and expand investment opportunities.

Produced by: Kishan Sivaswamy

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  economytechnologymanagingmarketsinternationalenvironmentgovernment

Tags:  data centre expansionMalaysia data hubKnight Frank reportJohor IT capacitygovernment incentivesglobal techdigital infrastructure





Play / Pause

Listen now : P&L:

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst, KCM Trade tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Alvin Tai, Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence, on the outlook for palm planters in 2026 amid declining 2025 prices and high inventories.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Bunn Nagara, Director and Senior Fellow at the Renaissance Strategic Research Institute and Honorary Fellow at the Perak Academy, on what is at stake in the Thailand-Cambodia conflict.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Dr Prashanth Parameswaran, Fellow at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security and founder of the ASEAN Wonk newsletter, on 2025’s geopolitical trends and what to expect in 2026 amid ongoing global conflicts.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Michael Liew, Secretary-General, Malaysia Retail Chain Association gives us an outlook for the retail sector in 2026.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) Bunn Nagara, Director and Senior Fellow at the Renaissance Strategic Research Institute and Honorary Fellow at the Perak Academy, on what is at stake in the Thailand-Cambodia conflict.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst, KCM Trade tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

Pinnacle Perspectives

Ng Zhu Hann, Founder and CEO of Tradeview Capital, recaps pivotal market movements in 2025, and outlook for 2026.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

11:05 AM

P&L

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Dr Prashanth Parameswaran, Fellow at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security and founder of the ASEAN Wonk newsletter, on 2025’s geopolitical trends and what to expect in 2026 amid ongoing global conflicts.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Earth Matters

In this ‘Best of 2025’ replay, we hear from Gerimis Art’s co-founder Wendi Sia, to discover more about the Mah Meri’s bunga moyang, or ancestral spirit flowers, that reflect a way of life in harmony with nature.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

In this ‘Best of 2025’ replay, we speak to Narcotics Anonymous Malaysia about how they help people with drug addiction.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Today I Learned

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

A Bit of Culture