{
  "id": 19746940,
  "title": "Data centre boom prompts new safeguards as Malaysia targets 2027 for regulatory bill",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/data-centre-boom-prompts-new-safeguards-as-malaysia-targets-2027-for",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-13T03:01:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/11/13/data-centre-boom-prompts-new-safeguards-as-malaysia-targets-2027-for-regulatory-bill/243063"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Digital Ministry is nearing completion on the Digital Infrastructure (Data Centre) Bill, a regulatory framework designed to bolster protection, operational resilience, and governance of data centres within the nation's critical digital infrastructure. The bill is expected to be finalized and presented to the Dewan Rakyat by 2027, pending government approval.\n\nThe Digital Ministry explained that once enacted, the regulatory framework will be overseen by the ministry to ensure compliance with safety, resilience, and continuity standards. So far, 11 data centre projects have been approved in Kuala Lumpur by October 2026, with two projects underway and nine already operational. All data centre projects must secure approval from the Data Centre Task Force (DCTF), which evaluates aspects such as the availability and adequacy of electricity and water supply.\n\nThe ministry reported that the average daily water consumption of data centres in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor is 2.4 million liters, with a sufficient water supply margin reserve to meet current demand. The ministry responded to questions from Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) and Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat) regarding the digital infrastructure bill, the number of new data centres being developed, and their potential impact on electricity and water supply adequacy.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — The Digital Ministry is currently in the final stages of drafting the Digital Infrastructur...",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysian Digital Ministry finalizing Digital Infrastructure (Data Centre) Bill by 2027.",
    "11 data centre projects approved in Kuala Lumpur by October 2026.",
    "Data centres consume 2.4 million liters of water daily with reserve supply."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Formalizing oversight through new legislation shifts data centre management from individual project approvals to a centralized regulatory framework focused on maintaining national resource stability and infrastructure resilience.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}