KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — Google projects its Elmina data centre in Selangor to begin operations within nine months, as the technology giant advances its US$2 billion (RM8.16 billion) investment that also aims at creating jobs and driving wider economic benefits for the surrounding community.
Google Asia Pacific Global Infrastructure principal Ken Siah said construction of the facility is progressing as planned, although no exact date has been set for when the company expects to begin its operations.
“Development has been progressing very well. Construction has been very good. The partnership with the local communities and the local government has also been very constructive,” he said during a recent interview with Media Selangor at Google Malaysia headquarters in Axiata Tower.
Previously, on May 30, 2024, Google announced it was investing US$2 billion in Malaysia, including the development of its first Google data centre and Google Cloud region to meet the growing demand for cloud services locally and around the world, as well as artificial intelligence (Al) literacy programmes for students and educators.
It said the company’s first Malaysian data centre and Google Cloud region is the group’s largest planned investment so far in Malaysia. The project, which will be located at Sime Darby Property Bhd's Elmina Business Park, is projected to have over US$3.2 billion (RM13.05 billion) in positive economic impact by 2030.
State executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han had said that various industries in Selangor, including semiconductors, are set to benefit from this development.
Creating jobs, boosting local businesses
For the Elmina project, Siah said the construction phase alone is expected to create about 4,200 jobs, while giving Malaysian companies an opportunity to build expertise in developing hyperscale data centres.
“During this phase, we are helping local companies who are engaged in the construction process to understand what our hyperscale design is. We are helping to upskill them to learn what it takes to be able to build a global hyperscale data centre,” he said.
Siah added that the project is expected to generate wider economic benefits for businesses supplying goods and services to the data centre.
“For every one job that we create inside our own data centre, it supports nine other jobs outside it,” he said, noting that Google’s data centres require a wide range of local suppliers and service providers, including contractors, design consultants, compliance and environmental specialists, equipment suppliers, legal firms, maintenance providers, and waste management companies.
“Most of these jobs will actually be with local companies that (understand the local market) and have experience operating in Malaysia.
“All these contracts are recurring every year because they do not stop; they continue as long as the data centre is operating, creating jobs for the economy in the long run,” Siah said.
The multiplier effect could also benefit businesses in surrounding areas, as the data centre brings more workers and economic activity to the locality, including in the hospitality sector.
He also dismissed the notion that data centres operate with only a small number of employees, saying hundreds of skilled workers are hired in Google facilities, including technicians, network engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, supply chain and logistics managers, energy specialists, and community affairs managers.
Google is also hiring for its Malaysian data centre, although Siah could not disclose the exact number of positions available.
New hires will undergo intensive training as Google’s hyperscale facilities use specialised systems and technologies developed for the company’s own operations.
He underscored the company’s long-term presence in Malaysia, which will support wider economic activity, as data centres are long-term investments designed to ensure local communities continue to benefit beyond the construction phase.
Addressing noise pollution
On concerns over noise pollution linked to data centres, Siah said Google deliberately locates its facilities away from densely populated areas in industrial or business parks, and carries out regular noise testing during operations.
“We actually test how much noise our data centres are making. Typically, it needs to fall within 50 to 65 decibels. So, we test regularly to make sure that it does not exceed this threshold,” he said.
A noise level of 50 to 65 decibels is generally comparable to normal conversation or the background noise of a quiet office, allowing people to speak comfortably without raising their voices.
Noise mitigation measures include positioning generators so that they face inwards rather than towards surrounding areas, maintaining adequate setbacks within the site and installing noise-dampening fans near servers.
Siah said the cooling system is not expected to significantly increase noise levels, with the company’s mitigation measures designed to contain noise within the facility.
