KUALA LUMPUR – Japanese tech powerhouse SoftBank Group and regional superapp Grab have forged a multi-billion-dollar alliance with Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) to build world-class artificial intelligence infrastructure across Malaysia, backed by an initial US$1.85 billion (RM8.2 billion) in seed capital.
The joint development pact targets an ultimate compute capacity of five gigawatts or more, positioning the facilities among Asia’s largest AI hubs to cater to soaring data demands across Southeast Asia.
Welcoming the mega-deal, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hailed the consortium’s move as a landmark milestone for Malaysia’s digital ambitions, reflecting soaring foreign investor appetite.
“I welcome the announcement by the SoftBank-led consortium, including Grab and PETROS, to invest in AI Infrastructure Platform in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia,” Anwar said in an Instagram post.
“This is a significant moment in the country’s digital transformation and reflects global confidence in Malaysia’s potential to develop and use AI.”
Anwar noted that the mega-project directly bolsters the nation’s push to become an AI powerhouse under the National AI Action Plan 2026–2030, confirming that Putrajaya will collaborate closely with state authorities to facilitate execution.
“The willingness of global investors like SoftBank and Masayoshi Son to invest in Malaysia reflects strong confidence in our national capabilities, investment climate and political stability,” the Prime Minister added.
“Integrating SoftBank’s capital and expertise with Grab’s regional AI capabilities and proven track record of deploying operational AI across its ecosystem will significantly enhance Malaysia’s AI infrastructure and global competitiveness.”
Under the capital deployment blueprint, Sarawak will host a US$1 billion buildout backed by US$800 million from SoftBank, alongside US$100 million each from Grab and PETROS, following an initial framework inked in Kuching last month.
A separate US$850 million project will be developed across Peninsular Malaysia, led by Grab with a US$650 million commitment and US$200 million from SoftBank, with plans to crowd in long-term strategic co-investors and project financing as it expands.
Grab Chairman and CEO Anthony Tan will oversee both rollouts while continuing to steer Grab, supported by dedicated management teams. In a show of long-term commitment to the domestic AI ecosystem, SoftBank has also agreed in principle to a five-year lock-up on its direct Grab shareholding.
SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son stressed that AI infrastructure will anchor the region’s next economic surge, while Tan emphasized the symbolic milestone of building next-generation digital foundations where Grab was originally founded.
Balancing rapid tech industrialization with green benchmarks, Anwar cautioned that digital infrastructure must adhere strictly to environmental safeguards: “As Malaysia develops its AI infrastructure, we expect large-scale digital investments to support our sustainability goals. This project must meet applicable federal and state requirements, including those on renewable energy use.”
“I expect this investment to create skilled jobs for Malaysians and help more of our rakyat build expertise in AI,” Anwar said. “It should also create opportunities for our local businesses to supply goods and services as Malaysia builds its AI capabilities.” – November 10, 2026