KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — The requirement to disclose data centre operations information, including electricity usage and the number of graphics processing unit (GPU) chips imported, will be embedded in law to enable the government to monitor data centre operations, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
He said the government needs to know who each data centre’s operators and hyperscalers are, as well as the location of each one.
Johari said 55 of the 117 approved data centre projects have begun operations, and monitoring must continue after approval is granted.
He also said data centre operators must determine their actual electricity requirements as suppliers must allocate the capacity agreed upon in the supply agreements.
“For example, if a data centre books a capacity of 100MW but only uses 50MW, the remaining 50MW that are not being used will still be billed,” the minister said at the launch ceremony of MITI’s MySaham app here today.
He added that the Digital Ministry is reviewing laws to determine if they can be used to act against the re-export of GPU chips subject to sanctions by the United States.
“When the US imposes a restriction, we as a country want to make sure whatever chips arrive here are meant for our own use,” he said, adding that there have been parties who rent space in local data centres and import GPU chips, only to later re-export them.
“If (the US authorities) require confirmation, they can always check with the government for us to confirm,” he said.
Meanwhile, Johari said MySaham was introduced to help Bumiputera investors to obtain information and manage matters related to the Saham Khas Bumiputera (SKB) category of shares.
