Data centre growth must not compromise sustainability
LETTER: THE rapid expansion of data centres in Malaysia, driven by the growing demand for Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing and digital technology, presents significant economic opportunities and strengthens our ambition to become a regional digital hub.
The rapid growth of data centres in Malaysia, fueled by the demand for AI, cloud computing, and digital technology, offers significant economic benefits, positioning Malaysia as a regional digital hub. However, these data centres are energy-intensive facilities that may cause environmental issues if not well-managed. As Chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community (IKATAN), Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye warns that Malaysia must find a balance between technological progress, economic growth, and environmental protection.
Several key concerns must be addressed: first, electricity consumption and carbon emissions; second, water consumption and water security; third, environmental impact and land development; and fourth, electronic waste management. To tackle these issues, the government is urged to implement several measures. These include stringent environmental and sustainability requirements for major data centre projects, mandatory sustainability standards, increased use of renewable energy and energy-efficient cooling technologies, priority for recycled and reclaimed water, improved transparency, stricter enforcement, review of investment incentives, and a mandatory Green Data Centre Certification.
The government should also ensure that data centre development aligns with the availability of electricity, water, and other supporting infrastructure.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
