GYEONGJU: The Nvidia Corporation-YTL Power International Bhd partnership's significant progress in building artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure is an impetus to accelerate the country's AI drive, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister congratulated the two companies on achieving this significant milestone within 22 months.
"Malaysia aims to become a leading AI nation by 2030, leveraging AI to boost productivity, enhance public services, and build a sustainable, inclusive and ethical digital economy.
"Establishing our own AI is very important in developing a secure, trusted AI-enabled digital ecosystem," he said in a statement after meeting Nvidia Corp founder and chief executive officer Jensen Huang and YTL Power managing director Datuk Seri Yeoh Seok Hong.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders' Meeting, which kicked off yesterday.
This was Anwar's second meeting with the "newest tech megastar", as described recently by the industry, the first being in Putrajaya in 2023.
Among key achievements are the successful completion of YTL Power's state-of-the-art AI data centre facility in partnership with Nvidia at the 600MW YTL Green Data Centre Park in Kulai, Johor.
This facility, powered by liquid-cooled NVL72 Grace Blackwell (GB 200) GPUs, represents a major step forward in building Malaysia's own AI.
In July last year, both companies developed AI infrastructure powered by green energy in Malaysia, backed by an investment worth RM10bil.
According to the statement, Malaysia has made strides in its aspiration to become an AI nation in a short time.
It launched the National AI Office under the Digital Ministry last year and announced a set of initiatives to drive AI adoption in the country, including the development of an AI cloud.
Malaysia also launched Ilmu, its first large language model, at the Asean AI Summit in August.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the government has earmarked RM5.9bil in its 2026 budget to bolster the nation's AI sector.
"We will continue to actively promote strategic investments in AI infrastructure, driving forward our mission to lead in digital transformation," he said.
In a separate statement, Yeoh said it has become increasingly vital for nations to develop sovereign clouds to host government- and citizen-facing AI services.
"With the YTL AI Cloud now operational, and the launch of Ilmu, Malaysia will be among the first in the region to benefit from true AI capabilities.
"We thank the government for its foresight in establishing the policy frameworks that have enabled the rapid advancement of AI infrastructure across the country," he said.
Separately, Anwar said that South Korea's Namhae Chemical Corporation has expressed its continuous interest to source raw materials, especially rock phosphate, potassium chloride and green ammonia from Malaysia for its chemical fertiliser production.
He said Malaysia offers a reliable and competitive base for the South Korean conglomerate's future supply chain and production partnerships, leveraging Malaysia's research institutions and industrial parks.
Anwar said he looks forward to deepening this partnership and supporting Namhae Chemical's future growth in the region based on a shared focus on sustainability and innovation.
"This diversification aligns well with Malaysia's growing capacity in sustainable fertiliser inputs and our transition toward green industrial ecosystems," he said after a meeting with the company's executive vice-president Kang Nam-kyung, Bernama reported.
Namhae Chemical, a subsidiary of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation is the 10th largest conglomerate in South Korea and the largest producer of chemical fertilisers and industrial chemical products.
Meanwhile, Anwar said the proposed collaboration between South Korea-listed JS Link and Lynas Malaysia to set up a magnet manufacturing plant in Malaysia underscores the country's robust industrial ecosystem, skilled workforce, and pro-investment policies.
"The collaboration will help create a sustainable supply chain for rare earth magnets, which are critical components in electric vehicle (EVs), renewable energy systems, and high-tech manufacturing," he said.
Anwar said government looks forward in realising this project, which would not only strengthen Malaysia's role in the regional rare earth ecosystem but would also contribute to global efforts in building a secure, transparent, and sustainable supply chain for critical minerals.
In July, Lynas Rare Earths Ltd said it signed an initial pact with JS Link to develop a rare earth permanent magnet production in Malaysia.
Under the memorandum of understanding, Lynas will work with JS Link to develop a facility to manufacture up to 3,000 tonnes of neodymium-iron-boron type of permanent sintered magnet near its advanced materials plant in Kuantan.