SoftBank Group and Grab Holdings have announced a joint venture with Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) to invest $2.39b (US$1.85b) in developing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across Malaysia. This initiative, revealed on 9 November 2026, seeks to establish a significant AI compute capacity of five gigawatts or more, supporting Malaysia’s AI Nation 2030 ambition and enhancing its status as a regional AI hub.
The collaboration will see the construction of AI facilities in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, aiming to meet the rising demand for computing power in Southeast Asia. Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Group, stated, “AI infrastructure will power the next wave of growth, and Malaysia has the talent and ambition to help lead it.” Anthony Tan, CEO of Grab, added, “Together with SoftBank Group, we plan to build critical AI infrastructure in Malaysia, where Grab began, for all of Southeast Asia.”
The investment, comprising $1.29b (US$1b) from SoftBank, $967.5m (US$750m) from Grab, and $129m (US$100m) from PETROS, will be deployed in stages, contingent on achieving key development milestones. The projects will align with Malaysia’s National AI Action Plan 2026–2030 and the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030, focusing on sustainable and efficient infrastructure.
Beyond infrastructure, the partnership will explore advanced manufacturing opportunities, aiming to create high-value jobs and support Malaysia’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Policy. This initiative is expected to accelerate AI adoption, improve productivity, and enhance Malaysia’s workforce capabilities.
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