RM15 Billion Green Islamic Financing Secured for DayOne’s Data Centres in Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone
In a major boost to Malaysia’s digital economy and cross-border connectivity with Singapore, Singapore-based DayOne has secured RM15 billion in multi-currency financing for the development of its anchor data centre facilities within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). The financing marks Malaysia’s largest syndicated green Islamic loan to date, underscoring the rising convergence of sustainable finance and digital infrastructure development in the region.
💰 Breakdown of the Financing Package
The RM15 billion financing is structured in two tranches:
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RM7.5 billion onshore Islamic facility, compliant with Shariah principles.
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US$1.7 billion offshore term loan, raised from international banks.
The funding will support DayOne’s key data centre developments in Nusajaya Tech Park and Kempas Tech Park, both located in Iskandar Malaysia’s economic cluster in Johor and within the JS-SEZ framework.
🏦 Banking Consortium Behind the Deal
A robust consortium of local and international banks facilitated the transaction, including:
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Maybank (KL:MAYBANK)
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CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB)
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Crédit Agricole
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DBS Bank Ltd
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Standard Chartered
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United Overseas Bank (UOB)
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Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd (OCBC)
The deal was officially witnessed by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, at a signing ceremony on Wednesday.
“This landmark transaction represents Maybank’s largest Islamic financing commitment to the data-centre sector,” said Maybank CEO Khairussaleh Ramli.
Maybank served in multiple leading roles:
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Joint Shariah Adviser
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Joint Coordinator
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Mandated Lead Arranger & Bookrunner
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Joint Green Financing and Loan Coordinator
🌱 Sustainability at the Core: Green Loan Principles
The financing structure adheres to the Green Loan Principles, with proceeds allocated toward:
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Refinancing existing data centre debt
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Capital expenditure for new facilities
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Building LEED Gold (or higher) certified data centres
This move reflects a wider commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities within the financial and technology sectors.
OCBC and UOB echoed similar sentiments on the strategic and sustainable value of this investment:
“This financing enhances the digital infrastructure backbone connecting Malaysia and Singapore, positioning ASEAN as a hub for digital services,” said Ng Wei Wei, CEO of UOB Malaysia.
“Our support demonstrates OCBC’s role in responsible finance and sustainable development,” said Tan Chor Sen, CEO of OCBC Malaysia.
🛰️ Strategic Importance of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone
The JS-SEZ is a bilateral initiative to drive cross-border economic integration between Malaysia’s Iskandar region and Singapore, focusing on sectors like:
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Digital economy & cloud infrastructure
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Advanced manufacturing
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Logistics & smart mobility
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Green energy & tech
DayOne’s data centres in Nusajaya and Kempas are among the first major anchor developments under this initiative and will serve as a critical digital bridge between both nations.
By tapping into Johor’s abundant land and energy availability and Singapore’s regional network strength, the JS-SEZ offers unique advantages for:
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Cloud computing firms
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AI startups
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Multinational hyperscale clients
🧠 Who is DayOne?
DayOne is a pan-Asian data centre developer and operator, with facilities across:
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Singapore
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Indonesia
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Bangkok
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Hong Kong
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Tokyo
The JS-SEZ expansion marks a major milestone in DayOne’s regional growth strategy, leveraging:
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Strategic location near Singapore
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Green financing frameworks
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Dual regulatory support from Malaysia and Singapore
DayOne’s Johor data centres are poised to serve as AI training hubs, disaster recovery sites, and regional cloud nodes, enhancing ASEAN’s digital competitiveness.
🚀 Malaysia’s Rise as a Regional Data Centre Powerhouse
This RM15 billion financing deal comes amid surging interest in Malaysia’s data centre ecosystem, especially:
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Southern Johor, due to its proximity to Singapore
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Cyberjaya and Greater Klang Valley, known for digital infrastructure and talent
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Green energy zones, driven by Malaysia’s carbon-neutral 2050 commitment
According to Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Malaysia is projected to attract over RM70 billion in cumulative data centre investments by 2030, largely from hyperscalers and digital infrastructure firms.
🔚 Conclusion: Finance Meets Infrastructure in JS-SEZ
The DayOne green Islamic financing facility is a landmark in Malaysia’s digital and ESG evolution, showcasing how Islamic finance, sustainability, and tech infrastructure can converge to create long-term value. As digital transformation accelerates across Southeast Asia, Johor’s JS-SEZ is emerging as a strategic enabler of cross-border data sovereignty, cloud capacity, and AI innovation.
This deal not only positions Malaysia as a digital leader in ASEAN—it also sets a blueprint for ESG-led infrastructure finance across Asia.
