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Malaysia’s prime minister says SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son plans to invest $50 billion in tech projects in the country

Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a speech in Malacca on October 24 that he held a video conference with SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son last Tuesday. Son said that Kuching in Sarawak state and areas in Peninsular Malaysia had been selected for $50 billion in technology investments, focusing on artificial intelligence, new technologies and data centers.

Anwar said this would become one of the largest investments in the region. SoftBank did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier, around October 8, SoftBank had signed a framework agreement with Grab and Sarawak oil company PETROS to explore building an AI and digital infrastructure platform in Sarawak, including AI computing services, robotics and local talent development.

The Malaysian government has set a target of becoming an “AI nation” by 2030 and has already attracted substantial data center-related investment. SoftBank is also advancing data center-related projects of about $500 billion in Ohio, the United States, and up to about $84 billion in France. No specific timetable, financing structure or job creation scale has been disclosed.

Original sources:

  1. Title: SoftBank’s Son Plans $50 Billion Malaysia Tech Outlay, PM Says Publisher: Bloomberg Publication date: 2026-10-25 URL: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-25/softbank-s-son-plans-50-billion-malaysia-tech-outlay-pm-says Source type: media report Verification status: full text actually read for this report, verification date 2026-10-26 Supported content: supports Anwar’s account of the video conference, the $50 billion scale, selection of Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, focus on AI and data centers, and SoftBank not immediately responding

  2. Title: SoftBank reportedly plans $50 billion tech investment in Malaysia Publisher: CNBC Publication date: 2026-10-26 URL: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/26/softbank-masayoshi-son-malaysia-ai-billions.html Source type: media report Verification status: full text actually read for this report, verification date 2026-10-26 Supported content: supports Bloomberg report references, Anwar’s stated location and sectors, Malaysia’s “AI nation” goal, and the earlier framework agreement

  3. Title: SoftBank’s Son plans $50 billion Malaysia tech outlay, PM Anwar Ibrahim says Publisher: The Japan Times Publication date: 2026-10-26 URL: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/10/26/softbank-malaysia-data-center-investments/ Source type: media report Verification status: full text actually read for this report, verification date 2026-10-26 Supported content: supports Anwar’s quoted remarks, the investment sectors, background on SoftBank’s other large projects, and Malaysia’s existing stock of data center investment

ABAB AI Insight

Malaysia’s prime minister publicly disclosed the contents of a video conference with Masayoshi Son, saying that SoftBank had selected Kuching in Sarawak and areas in Peninsular Malaysia as locations for a $50 billion technology investment, with a focus on AI infrastructure and data centers. This statement extends SoftBank’s global AI infrastructure rollout into Southeast Asia, alongside its large data center plans in Ohio and France.

SoftBank had previously signed a framework agreement with Grab and PETROS to explore AI and digital infrastructure in Sarawak. Malaysia has already accumulated tens of billions of dollars in data center-related investment in recent years and has set a 2030 goal of becoming an “AI nation.” The information currently stops at the selected locations and sectors, with no project breakdown, timetable or financing details, and SoftBank has not publicly confirmed it.

Indicators to watch include whether SoftBank issues a formal announcement or framework details, subsequent expansion of partners, and progress on Malaysia’s data center approvals and power supply arrangements.

ABAB News · Cognitive Law

  1. Malaysia’s prime minister said that SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son has selected Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia for $50 billion in AI and data center investment.

  2. The plan extends SoftBank’s large AI infrastructure buildout in the United States and Europe and connects with the earlier Sarawak framework agreement.

  3. At present, there is only a statement about locations and sectors, with no specific timetable, financing structure or official confirmation details.