Malaysia recorded MYR 54.13 billion (13.33 billion U.S. dollars) in approved Malaysia Digital (MD) investments, generating 21,815 high-value jobs across 402 digital companies, highlighting sustained investor confidence in the country’s digital ecosystem and reflects Malaysia’s long-term artificial intelligence (AI)-driven growth trajectory.
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) said in a statement that Malaysia’s digital economy investment continues to record strong momentum, reinforcing the nation’s ambition to become an AI Nation by 2030 and strengthening its position as a leading digital innovation hub in ASEAN.
The Minister of Digital of Malaysia, Gobind Singh Deo said the strong investment momentum reflects Malaysia’s readiness to lead in the AI era, enabling the nation to move up the value chain from being users of technology to becoming creators of globally competitive AI solutions.
“Becoming an AI Nation by 2030 requires more than innovation. It demands strong digital foundations, trusted infrastructure, skilled talent, and robust global partnerships,
“The continued inflow of high-quality digital investments into Malaysia demonstrates international confidence in our policies, our talent, and our long-term vision for responsible and inclusive AI-driven growth,” he added.
According to the statement, the top four sources of approved digital investments were Singapore-based investors, contributing MYR 25.1 billion ($6.18 billion), followed by Malaysia investors committed MYR 17.2 billion ($4.24 billion), the United States at MYR 6.4 billion ($1.58 billion), and China at MYR 3 billion ($740,000).
Despite cautious global investment conditions in 2025, the statement highlighted that Malaysia’s digital economy continued to pivot towards employment-intensive and high value segments, particularly in AI.
AI-related investments alone accounted for 8,328 jobs created, representing 38 percent of total projected employment, reflecting rising demand for digital professionals, data scientists, AI engineers, and specialized service talent.
The Klang Valley continues to be the focal point of digital investments, with Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur and Selangor attracting 88 percent of total investments, amounting to MYR 47.8 billion ($11.77 billion) and nearly 90 percent of the 19,417 digital jobs created, supported by mature infrastructure, strong talent concentration, and high ecosystem readiness.
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Chief Executive Officer, Anuar Fariz Fadzil, echoes minister’s statement, noting that Malaysia continues to stand out as a preferred destination for AI investments.
“Malaysia is a premier destination for both foreign and domestic AI investments, driven by its strategic position as a digital hub within ASEAN and a highly skilled local talent workforce,
“MDEC’s commitment to developing future-ready talent in partnership with the tech industry has created a supportive ecosystem that enables innovation, scalability, and long-term growth,” he added.
It is noted that MDEC’s Malaysia Digital (MD) initiatives continue to attract global leaders across high-value AI technology stacks, shaping a local ecosystem where AI is developed responsibly, adopted widely, enables the local companies to expand globally.
These efforts place Malaysian-based companies at the center of the nation’s AI transformation, including those operating within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) ecosystem.
“By providing targeted incentives, proactive investor facilitation, and close policy alignment, MDEC ensures a seamless investment journey while strengthening cross-border digital investment opportunities,” Anuar added.
As Malaysia advances towards AI Nation 2030, Malaysia Digital (MD) initiatives will remain a cornerstone in driving innovation, strengthening competitiveness, creating high-value jobs, and ensuring that the nation’s AI future is inclusive, sustainable, and globally relevant, said the statement.
Alibaba Cloud and MDEC launch SME Digitalization Program to boost Malaysia’s Next-Gen businesses