Malaysia is set to strengthen its position as a regional digital infrastructure hub, with SoftBank Group, Grab Holdings and Petroleum Sarawak joining forces to invest $1.85 billion in AI infrastructure projects. The collaboration aims to develop data centre capacity of 5 gigawatts or more across Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia over the long term.
Under the investment plan, SoftBank will contribute $1 billion as seed capital for the 2 projects, while Grab Holdings and Petroleum Sarawak will invest $750 million and $100 million, respectively, according to a joint statement by the companies.
SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son highlighted Malaysia’s potential in advancing AI infrastructure, stating, “AI infrastructure will power the next wave of growth, and Malaysia has the talent and ambition to help lead it. Together with Grab, we will build the capacity needed to support Malaysia’s digital ambitions and accelerate AI innovation across Southeast Asia.” Son has an estimated net worth of $48 billion, making him Japan’s 2nd-richest tycoon.
The investment comes as Malaysia gains prominence as a digital infrastructure destination, particularly after Singapore introduced tighter restrictions on new data centre developments. According to Cushman & Wakefield, Malaysia’s data centre capacity is projected to increase from 1.3 gigawatts as of June 2026 to 6.8 gigawatts by 2030, positioning the country among Asia’s largest data centre hubs.
As a founding shareholder, Grab will oversee project development and bring in long-term strategic investors as the projects expand. The companies also plan to diversify the funding base through third-party equity investments and non-recourse project financing at the individual project level.
Grab Co-founder and CEO Anthony Tan highlighted the regional importance of the initiative, stating, “Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies, and Grab is at the forefront of developing AI solutions for the region. With SoftBank Group, we plan to build critical AI infrastructure in Malaysia, where Grab began, for all of Southeast Asia. This infrastructure will allow us to accelerate the development of localized AI solutions for our communities.”
The partnership follows separate challenges to the companies’ expansion plans. In November 2026, China blocked SoftBank’s proposed acquisition of ABB’s robotics unit, which operates facilities in the country. Earlier, in October 2026, Taiwan rejected Grab’s proposed $600 million acquisition of Foodpanda’s local business.
Founded in 2012 by Anthony Tan and Tan Hooi Ling, Grab is a Southeast Asian superapp headquartered in Singapore. Its operations span 8 countries, with services extending beyond taxi booking and ride-hailing to include food delivery, digital payments and financial services.
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