Perak Development Corporation Explores a 100MW-Plus AI Data Centre With Global Vision Lab
The Perak State Development Corporation (PKNPk) is studying an artificial intelligence data centre in the state with planned power capacity of more than 100 megawatts, The Star reported on November 3. The facility would serve rising demand for AI, high-performance computing and GPU-based workloads in Malaysia and the wider region.
As a first step, PKNPk and Global Vision Lab Sdn Bhd (GVL) have signed a non-disclosure agreement and a letter of consent so the two sides can share information and carry out preliminary assessments of the project’s technical, infrastructure and commercial feasibility. PKNPk will coordinate state-level stakeholders, while GVL will lead development planning and oversee the technical and commercial studies. The assessment will cover site suitability, power supply, cooling systems, network connectivity and other supporting infrastructure.
PKNPk chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq Abdul Razak said the plan fits the state’s push to diversify its economy through high-value technology and could support the Perak Sejahtera 2030 agenda. He listed potential benefits including high-skilled jobs, stronger local technology supply chains and wider AI adoption in sectors such as manufacturing and logistics. GVL executive director YL Lee said demand for generative AI and high-performance computing had increased the need for robust and flexible digital infrastructure, and that the current focus is on operating requirements and a viable development model.
What it means in practice
This is an early exploration rather than an investment decision. Redza Rafiq said the scope, investment commitments, construction arrangements, power supply and timeline will depend on the assessments, definitive agreements and approvals from the relevant authorities. Those approvals are getting harder to win: federal ministers have said states without enough water will not get new data centres, and the energy ministry is reviewing data centre power reservations to protect other consumers. Perak will need to show it can supply both without straining households and industry. With most of Malaysia’s data centre build-out so far concentrated in Johor and the Klang Valley, a northern site would also test whether the boom can spread.
What to watch is where the proposed site is, how much grid power and water it would draw, and whether the parties sign definitive agreements once the feasibility studies are complete.