SoftBank Group, Grab, and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad have signed joint development agreements to build AI infrastructure in Malaysia. The parties plan US$1.85 billion in initial combined seed capital. Their long-term target is five gigawatts or more of AI compute capacity.
Project breakdown
The Sarawak project has a proposed initial investment of US$1 billion. SoftBank Group would provide US$800 million, while Grab and PETROS would each contribute US$100 million. The Peninsular Malaysia project would start with US$850 million, led by Grab with US$650 million.
Governance and leadership
The projects will be developed alongside Malaysia's federal government and the Sarawak government. The work aligns with the National AI Action Plan 2026 to 2030 and Sarawak's Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030. Grab CEO Anthony Tan is expected to oversee both projects while continuing to lead Grab.
What the facilities will provide
The facilities aim to give governments, multinational companies, and small businesses reliable access to advanced computing. They will operate in line with Malaysia's renewable energy use guidelines. The projects are expected to create high-value jobs in engineering, design, and technical fields.
The proposed investment will be deployed in stages. Funding depends on development milestones, customer contracts, and closing conditions. The parties will also seek additional investors and hyperscaler customers to support expansion.