Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug. 12, 2022 – Google Cloud today announced that it is bringing its first cloud region to Malaysia to meet the growing demand for cloud services locally and around the world. Globally, Google Cloud also recently announced plans to add cloud regions in New Zealand, Mexico, and Thailand, which will join five regions already coming soon to Berlin, Dammam, Doha, Tel Aviv, and Turin.
The Malaysia cloud region will offer local organizations the enterprise-grade capabilities they need to accelerate digital transformation and create new competitive advantages, reinforcing Google Cloud’s commitment to supporting the Malaysian government’s plans for the country’s next phase of economic development. This follows research by AlphaBeta, commissioned by Google, which found that digital transformation, if leveraged fully, could create up to MYR 257.2 billion (USD 61.3 billion) in annual economic value in Malaysia by 2030 – the equivalent of 17% of local GDP in 2020.
From our partners:
“Malaysia is serious about achieving its digital ambitions, including the successful implementation of 5G to propel our technological capabilities onto the next level. To that end, Google Cloud’s proposed establishment of a new cloud region in Malaysia will not only complement our digital initiatives, but also directly empower businesses and individuals to achieve more through Google Cloud’s on-demand computing resources. This is also a sign that our private-public sector partnership approach is attracting the right high-quality investments. With the public sector already taking the lead through a cloud-first, cost-efficient strategy to develop citizen-centric services, we are confident that it is only a matter of time before the private sector follows suit in leveraging enablers like Google Cloud to capture new growth opportunities,” said Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Finance, Malaysia.
“We’ve witnessed clearly in the past two years the instrumental role that cloud services can play in helping us respond nimbly to disruption. Going forward, where procuring and maintaining data centers is cost prohibitive for most organizations, we expect the cloud to become the backbone for realizing our MyDIGITAL blueprint and aspirations of becoming a regional digital powerhouse by 2030,” said Datuk Seri Dr. Yusof bin Ismail, Director-General of Malaysian Administrative Modernization and Planning Unit (MAMPU).
“A fast growing startup ecosystem and the fact that 8 in 10 Malaysians already use digital services in their daily lives is testament to the country’s rich creativity, strong entrepreneurial spirit, and openness toward embracing new technologies,” said Ruma Balasubramanian, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Google Cloud. “With the announcement of our plans to set up a new cloud region in Malaysia, Google Cloud is reinforcing our support of the government’s MyDIGITAL blueprint, which aims to achieve a digital economy that accounts for 25.5% of Malaysia’s GDP by 2025. The Malaysia cloud region will also deliver the cloud foundation that more local businesses need to transform and compete on the global stage – whether it’s by maximizing the use of data, enabling a hybrid workforce, or having the flexible platform to adapt to evolving market and regulatory conditions. We’re excited by this expanded opportunity to contribute to Malaysia becoming one of the world’s most competitive countries and the innovation engine of a digital economy in Southeast Asia that’s set to be worth MYR 4.46 trillion (USD 1 trillion) by 2030.”
Empowering Organizations to Accelerate Innovation Closer to Home
When launched, the Malaysia cloud region will deliver high-performance and low-latency services to local organizations, with three zones offering protection against service disruptions. Organizations will also benefit from key controls that allow them to maintain the highest security, data residency, and compliance standards, including specific data storage requirements. The cloud region will be complemented by Google Cloud’s existing Dedicated Cloud Interconnect locations in Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur, which provide direct connections between an organization’s on-premises network and Google Cloud’s global network.
The Malaysia cloud region will join Google Cloud’s 11 existing regions across Asia Pacific and Japan, including two in Southeast Asia – in Singapore and Jakarta. With 34 regions and 103 zones currently in operation around the world, Google Cloud’s global network of cloud regions serves customers of all sizes, from public sector agencies and large enterprises to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups.
Having recently signed a new Cloud Framework Agreement with the Malaysian government to advance public sector innovation, Google Cloud continues to collaborate with the likes of Malaysia’s Ministry of Education and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP).
Google Cloud has, in particular, been gaining mindshare and market share with large enterprises operating in regulated industries. Leading companies like AFFIN Bank, Axiata Group, Capital A (AirAsia Aviation and airasia Super App, Hong Leong Bank, JB Cocoa, KPJ Healthcare, Malaysia Airlines, Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, Maxis, and Media Prima, just to name a few, have chosen Google Cloud as their trusted innovation partner to address five strategic priorities.
- Understanding and using data: Through a unified data platform that combines unstructured and structured data wherever it resides, Google Cloud enables organizations to reduce complexity, easily produce valuable business insights, and make smarter decisions in real-time.
- Establishing an open foundation for growth: Organizations running on Google Cloud’s flexible and open platform can quickly adapt as their needs evolve. Google Cloud’s open source heritage and commitment to multicloud and hybrid cloud architecture helps organizations retain their freedom of choice, enabling their software developers to build faster and more intuitively.
- Fostering a collaborative environment: Google Cloud provides the tools that organizations need to transform the way their people connect, create, and collaborate – whether they are returning to the office, working from home, or serving customers on the frontlines.
- Securing systems and users: As every company rethinks its security posture, Google Cloud helps them protect their data using the same infrastructure and security services that Google uses for its own global operations.
- Building a cleaner and more sustainable future: Google has been carbon neutral since 2007 and is working toward the goal of operating entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030. Today, when organizations run on Google Cloud – the industry’s cleanest cloud, their workloads are already matched with 100% renewable energy. Google Cloud then helps organizations decarbonize their operations with technologies like Carbon Footprint, Active Assist, and Earth Engine.
“The new Google Cloud region will help to address organizations’ increasing needs in the area of digital sovereignty and enable more opportunities for digital transformation and innovation in Malaysia. With this announcement, Google Cloud is providing customers with more choices in accessing capabilities from local cloud regions while aiding their journeys to hybrid and multicloud environments,” said Daphne Chung, Research Director, Cloud Services and Software Research, IDC Asia/Pacific.
“Our journey with Google Cloud spans almost half a decade, with our most recent partnership and co-innovation initiatives paving the way for AirAsia and Capital A to disrupt the digital platform arena in the same vein as we did airlines,” said Tony Fernandes, CEO, Capital A. “The announcement of a new cloud region that’s coming to Malaysia – and Thailand too if I may add – showcases Google Cloud’s continuous desire to expand its in-region capabilities to complement and support our aspirations of establishing the airasia Super App at the center of our e-commerce, logistics and fintech ecosystem, while enriching the local community and giving all 700 million people in Asean inclusivity, accessibility and value. I couldn’t be more excited about this massive milestone and the new possibilities that Google Cloud’s growing network of cloud regions will create for us, our peers, and the common man.”
“Google Cloud’s world-class cloud-based analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) tools have enabled Media Prima to embed a digital DNA across our organization, deliver trusted and real-time news updates during peak periods when people need them the most, and implement whole new engagement models like content commerce, thereby allowing us to diversify our revenue streams and remain at the forefront of an industry in transition,” said Rafiq Razali, Group Managing Director, Media Prima. “By allowing us to place our digital infrastructure and applications even closer to our audiences, this cloud region will supercharge data-driven content production and distribution, and our ability to enrich the lives of Malaysians by informing, entertaining, and engaging them through new and innovative mediums.”
Promoting Inclusive Growth Opportunities and Advancing Malaysia Together
With programs like Mahir Digital Bersama Google, Google Malaysia has been helping local SMEs, women, and entrepreneurs to establish and grow their businesses online, while also equipping underemployed and underserved youths with digital literacy skills through the Go Digital ASEAN program. Just last month, Google Malaysia launched a new program called Gemilang to provide all Malaysians from all backgrounds with digital training opportunities, to help them learn new skills and find jobs. The company currently delivers MYR 7.1 billion (USD 1.7 billion) in annual benefits to businesses and indirectly supports 31,000 jobs in Malaysia.
“The new cloud region is a key example of Google’s growing investment locally and part of our commitment toward building a more equitable and inclusive digital ecosystem,” said Marc Woo, Managing Director, Malaysia, Google. “Our teams have been working closely with government agencies, businesses, communities, and educators in Malaysia to provide the tools, training, and education that are essential for success in a digital future. When launched, the cloud region will strengthen our unique ability to bring enterprise and consumer ecosystems closer together – across Search, YouTube, Maps, Play, Cloud, and more, so we can partner more deeply with local organizations of all sizes to help them better serve the domestic market and export their products and services globally.”
About Google Cloud
Google Cloud accelerates every organization’s ability to digitally transform its business. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google’s cutting-edge technology – all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems.
For enquiries, product placements, sponsorships, and collaborations, connect with us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!
Our humans need coffee too! Your support is highly appreciated, thank you!
