Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz says the state is focusing on strengthening ByteDance’s long-term commitment, positioning itself as a strategic digital partner
JOHOR BAHRU: Johor continues to focus on strengthening ByteDance’s long-term commitment to the state.
This aligns with the global AI technology company’s large-scale data centre investment in Malaysia, which exceeds RM29.5 billion.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said a meeting with the company was held on Dec 23.
“Through this discussion, I reaffirmed our stance that Johor is not just an infrastructure destination, but rather a digital strategic partner capable of supporting large-scale operations safely, sustainably and resiliently for the long term,” he said.
ByteDance, known for platforms like TikTok, has already established a data centre at Sedenak Tech Park in Kulai.
Onn Hafiz said Johor’s strategic location in ASEAN and competitive costs give it potential to support ByteDance’s growth in Southeast Asia.
This includes supporting needs for high-performance data centres, platform operations, and digital talent development.
The meeting also discussed exploring the next phase of collaboration beyond infrastructure.
Potential areas include regional operations, AI, and the development of a digital content ecosystem.
“Hence, this opened a new path for strategic cooperation that will position Johor as a regional digital hub that is safe, sustainable and competitive for the long term,” he said.
