Amazon Web Services (AWS) has officially launched a new infrastructure region in Malaysia, marking a significant expansion of its global footprint. This development will allow AWS to offer local businesses, government agencies, and other organizations access to advanced cloud technologies directly from within Malaysia, significantly improving the efficiency and security of their operations while reducing latency for end users.
The new AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Region is a substantial commitment by the company to the Malaysian and broader Asia Pacific markets, underlined by its plan to invest over $6.2 billion (approximately MYR 29.2 billion) in Malaysia through 2038. This investment is expected to make a notable impact on Malaysia’s economy, potentially adding $12.1 billion (MYR 57.3 billion) to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and supporting more than 3,500 full-time jobs annually in related sectors such as construction, telecommunications, and engineering.
The new AWS region comprises three Availability Zones, each designed with independent power, cooling, and physical security to ensure high availability and resilience. These zones are strategically separated to enable business continuity while still being close enough to provide low latency for critical applications. This setup allows customers in Malaysia and the surrounding region to design fault-tolerant applications that can leverage multiple Availability Zones, enhancing operational reliability.
The launch of this AWS region is anticipated to boost Malaysia’s digital economy by enabling a wide range of organizations—from startups to large enterprises and public sector institutions—to utilize the latest in cloud technology. This includes tools for machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), among others. The new region is also expected to support Malaysia’s ambitions to become a leading hub for technology and innovation in Southeast Asia.
AWS’s commitment to Malaysia goes beyond just infrastructure, as the company is also actively involved in upskilling the local workforce. Since 2017, AWS has trained over 100,000 individuals in Malaysia in cloud skills, helping to bridge the digital skills gap and prepare the next generation of IT professionals. Additionally, the company is collaborating with various Malaysian institutions and organizations to foster innovation and support digital transformation initiatives across multiple sectors.
AWS’s sustainability efforts are also a key component of its operations in Malaysia. The company has pledged to become net-zero carbon across its operations by 2040 and is working on various initiatives to enhance the energy efficiency of its data centers globally. The new region in Malaysia will benefit from these sustainability measures, contributing to the country’s broader environmental goals, it said.
Malaysian customers using AWS include Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad, Axiata Group, Bank Islam Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia, CelcomDigi, the Department of Broadcasting Malaysia (RTM), GX Bank Berhad (GXBank), Johor Corporation, PayNet, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), Asia Pacific University (APU) of Technology & Innovation, Beeducation Adventures Sdn. Bhd. (BeED), Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE), Pos Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB),Aerodyne, Carsome, QRRA, and Tapway.
