Malaysia to require data centres by law to disclose GPU imports and power use, aiming to stop chip re-exports
Trade minister Johari Abdul Ghani said operators will have to disclose who runs each facility, its location, electricity use and the number of GPUs imported, after some firms rented data-centre space, imported chips and re-exported them.
Why it matters
Malaysia currently has no specific law to stop chips moving through the country, the minister told reporters, and the Digital Ministry is reviewing whether existing laws can be used against re-exports of US-restricted GPUs. The move lands as the Megaspeed affair puts Southeast Asian chip buyers under scrutiny; asked about Speedmatrix and Megaspeed, Johari said any action depended on whether wrongdoing was established. Watch for the draft bill's wording and whether Washington uses Malaysia's offer to confirm where chips end up.
Key facts
- Announced 12 Nov 2026 by Minister Johari Abdul Ghani
- Disclosure: operators, hyperscalers, locations, electricity use, GPUs imported
- 55 of 117 approved data centre projects are operating
- Malaysia has no specific law to stop chip movement
- Digital Ministry reviewing laws against GPU re-exports