Malaysia PM says SoftBank plans $50 billion technology outlay

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son had selected locations in Malaysia for $50 billion in investment spanning artificial intelligence, new technology and data centers. His October 24 speech named Sarawak, Kuching and Peninsular Malaysia.

The figure comes from Anwar’s account. The opened sources do not establish a funded or finalized commitment by SoftBank or disclose SoftBank’s funding share, the financing mix, a capital-allocation schedule, construction dates or how the proposed spending would be divided among the locations. Anwar said the investment would create new opportunities and better jobs, but the sources do not quantify that outcome.

SoftBank has announced a separate, narrower agreement in Sarawak. On October 8, SoftBank, Grab and state-owned energy company PETROS signed a framework agreement to explore an AI and digital infrastructure platform and prepare a phased roadmap. The proposed work covers AI computing and services, advanced technologies, robotics, workforce development and community development.

The framework includes no investment amount and does not require the companies to sign definitive agreements or carry out the project. SoftBank’s release lists financing, due diligence, internal approvals, government or regulatory approvals, land, power, connectivity and contracted customer demand among the unresolved dependencies.

The available sources do not establish whether the Sarawak framework is part of the $50 billion plan Anwar described. Nor do they provide a binding agreement, project-level budget, capacity target or timetable for the broader plan.