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Malaysia's growing data centre industry is creating high-skilled jobs paying up to RM30,000 a month, according to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo
Speaking during Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday, 7 July, Gobind said data centres should not be viewed merely as physical buildings, but as critical digital infrastructure that will support Malaysia's ambitions to become an AI-driven nation.
He said the computing power they provide will fuel demand for specialists such as network engineers, cloud architects, and data scientists, roles that command salaries well above the national average.
Some senior roles offer more than 10 times Malaysia's median wage
Gobind cited Bank Negara Malaysia's report, From Bytes to Bucks: The Economics of Data Centres in Malaysia, which examined the economic impact of the country's rapidly expanding data centre sector.
According to the report, entry-level roles typically pay between RM3,000 and RM7,000 a month, while senior and executive positions can command salaries ranging from RM10,000 to RM30,000 monthly.
For comparison, Malaysia's median monthly wage in 2024 stood at around RM2,793, meaning the highest-paid professionals in the sector can earn more than 10 times the national median wage.
The report notes that many of these higher-paying jobs emerge across the wider digital ecosystem supported by data centres, including cloud services, AI development, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure, rather than within the facilities themselves.
Gobind said these specialised roles would become increasingly important as Malaysia expands its use of artificial intelligence.
"Many say that when we look at a data centre, it is just a building and nothing happens inside," Gobind said.
"But we have to look at the spillover effects. When we have compute power, Malaysia will be able to succeed in using AI, and we will certainly see many new jobs created."
Average Salary of Data Centre Jobs vs Malaysia Median Salary
RM
The minister was responding to concerns over data centres' growing resource demands
Balik Pulau member of Parliament (MP) Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik had asked whether the rapid growth of data centres was placing excessive pressure on Malaysia's electricity and water supplies.
Bakhtiar noted that large data centres can consume between 20 and 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power thousands of homes, while using around five million litres of water.
He also pointed to rising industrial water tariffs in Johor and questioned whether global data centre operators were choosing Malaysia simply because of its relatively low utility costs.
Gobind said the priority was ensuring these investments delivered meaningful returns through high-skilled jobs, technology transfer, and the development of Malaysia's AI ecosystem.
Gobind said data centres create wider economic benefits beyond the facilities themselves
He also said the government views data centres as critical infrastructure needed to support Malaysia's AI Nation 2030 aspirations.
While acknowledging concerns over electricity and water consumption, Gobind said data centres should be assessed based on the broader digital ecosystem they enable, rather than the relatively small number of people employed within the facilities themselves.
According to Bank Negara Malaysia, approved investments in Malaysia's data centre sector reached RM144.4 billion between 2021 and the first half of 2025, making it one of the country's biggest recipients of foreign direct investment.
Beyond direct employment, the central bank said the industry also creates opportunities for businesses involved in IT consulting, software development, cybersecurity, hardware supply, and other digital services through wider supply-chain spillover effects.
Gobind also assured Parliament that environmental considerations remain part of the government's approval process
He said every proposed data centre is assessed by the Data Centre Task Force (DCTF), which evaluates factors including electricity demand, water requirements, land use, digital infrastructure, and sustainability before projects are approved.
The government also encourages operators to adopt renewable energy, energy-efficient cooling technologies, recycled water systems, and rainwater harvesting to reduce pressure on national resources.
Gobind said these measures are intended to ensure Malaysia can continue expanding its digital infrastructure while balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.
