Malaysian data centres used 9.3 % of the country’s electricity in the second week of August, up from a yearly average of 7 %, the Energy Commission said.
The spike came as higher temperatures forced cooling systems to draw more power.
Commission CEO Siti Safinah Salleh warned that hot weather could persist into early September, pushing hydro reservoirs low.
To meet rising demand, Malaysia will optimise its existing gas fleet until end‑2027 and add 9 GW of gas‑fired capacity by 2032.
Coal‑fired plants are slated for retirement only in 2044.
The country has attracted billions of dollars from Amazon and Microsoft for new data centre projects.
Thailand reacts to data centre boom
Industrial land prices in Thailand have climbed more than 50 % as investors seek sites for data centres.
A new National Data Centre Policy Committee has one month to draft nationwide rules covering power, water use, urban planning and environmental safeguards.
