Gamuda secures RM3.57b data centre jobs; Mida's Tengku Zafrul highlights Malaysia’s RM218.5b approved investments

Gamuda secures RM3.57b to build two Port Dickson hyperscale data centres

Gamuda Bhd secured two construction contracts worth a combined RM3.57 billion to build two single-storey hyperscale data centres in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. The contracts were awarded to wholly owned subsidiary Gamuda Engineering Sdn Bhd by a US-headquartered multinational technology company, whose identity was not disclosed.

The first contract, worth RM1.79 billion, is scheduled to begin in 4Q2026 and be completed in 3Q2028. The second, valued at RM1.78 billion, is also due to start in 4Q2026, with completion targeted for 4Q2028. Gamuda said its scope covers site infrastructure, core-and-shell construction, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing fit-out works for both facilities. The awards follow Gamuda’s reported RM1.72 billion Port Dickson hyperscale data centre contract in April and a further RM1.71 billion award announced earlier in August.

Gamuda said the two latest contracts are expected to contribute to revenue and earnings from the financial year ending July 31, 2027 until their completion.

Real estate accounts for RM33.5b as Malaysia records RM218.5b approved investments, says Mida chairman Tengku Zafrul

Malaysia recorded RM218.5 billion in approved investments across 2,746 projects in 1H2026, up 11.7% from RM195.5 billion in the corresponding period of 2025, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida). The projects are expected to create 99,030 jobs once implemented. The services sector accounted for RM149.6 billion of approved investments, including RM33.5 billion in the real estate subsector. Selangor recorded RM70 billion across 835 approved projects, followed by Johor with RM59.4 billion. Together, the two states accounted for RM129.4 billion, or about 59.2%, of the national total.

Kuala Lumpur ranked third with RM26.6 billion. Mida cited the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the upcoming Rapid Transit System Link among factors supporting Johor’s investment appeal. Information and communications recorded RM103.3 billion in approved investments, up 68.2% year on year. Within the subsector, data centre and cloud-computing projects accounted for RM95.8 billion, or close to 44% of Malaysia’s total approved investments during the six-month period.

Mida chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the half-year performance was driven by the services and manufacturing sectors. He said services grew 21%, with digital and information technology investments building the backbone for Malaysia’s AI Nation 2030 ambitions. Tengku Zafrul said Mida would continue to prioritise investments that transfer technology, deepen local vendor participation and create high-value jobs for Malaysians. Mida chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said securing investment approvals was only part of the task, with projects still needing to translate into operating facilities and employment.

Johor co-location data centre vacancy falls to 0.7%

Johor’s co-location data centre vacancy stood at 0.7%, according to Knight Frank Malaysia, compared with 4.9% in Singapore, 20.5% in Jakarta and 23.3% in Bangkok.

Co-location facilities provide space, power and cooling infrastructure to companies that choose not to build and operate their own data centres. Johor also recorded RM1.02 billion of disclosed data centre-related land and property transactions involving 163.6 acres in 1H2026. Knight Frank reported an incoming data centre development pipeline of 8,542MW for Johor.

Knight Frank said Johor retains cost advantages over Singapore in areas including land and electricity, although higher utility costs are putting pressure on that advantage.

Mayland targets Dorsett hotel REIT listing on Bursa by early 2027

Malaysia Land Properties, or Mayland, is targeting a Bursa Malaysia listing for a hotel real estate investment trust by early 2027, Tan Sri David Chiu told The Edge, with a potential secondary listing in Hong Kong. Chiu said six or seven Dorsett hotels could be injected into the proposed trust, which is targeting RM1.3 billion of assets under management.

Mayland owns 11 hotels in Malaysia with about 4,500 rooms. Chiu said its 1,800-bed Yoiho student accommodation asset in Subang could also potentially be injected into the trust. Chiu is the largest shareholder of Land & General Bhd (L&G) with a 34.74% stake and is chairman and chief executive officer of Hong Kong-listed Far East Consortium International Ltd. L&G’s net profit rose 38.7% to RM50.46 million for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, from RM36.37 million a year earlier.

The company is also moving into industrial property, with an industrial park planned on its 2,500-acre Sungai Jernih Estate in Kerling, Hulu Selangor.

Also on the radar today

Today's roundup

This is the first edition since Friday, Aug 28. Bursa Malaysia was closed over the weekend and for the Merdeka Day holiday on Monday, Aug 31, so today’s digest clears a run of corporate announcements issued before the Merdeka Day break, alongside news that emerged over the long weekend. Construction awards dominate the flow, led by Gamuda’s RM3.57 billion of Port Dickson data centre contracts and WCT’s RM600.88 million Tun Razak Exchange office job. The broader property story is the scale of approved investment recorded in data centres, real estate and related infrastructure. Mida’s RM218.5 billion tally of approved investments — including RM33.5 billion in real estate and RM95.8 billion in data centre and cloud-computing projects — provides the national picture, while Johor’s 0.7% co-location vacancy points to tight existing capacity in one of Malaysia’s principal data centre markets. Trading resumes today.