Malaysian Tycoon Lin Yun Ling’s Gamuda Building Over $1 Billion Of Solar Projects

Long known for highways, railways, and townships, the group is now becoming a key player in Malaysia’s fast-growing solar energy market—an industry increasingly critical to powering the next wave of hyperscale data centers.

Powering the Cloud with Clean Energy

This month, Gamuda announced two landmark renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of 2.7 gigawatts (GW)—a scale significant enough to support the expanding fleet of energy-hungry data centers in Malaysia.

The first deal, struck with Gentari Renewables—a green energy arm of Malaysia’s state-linked oil and gas giant Petronas—will see Gamuda develop a 1.5 GW solar farm. Just days earlier, the company partnered with plantation conglomerate SD Guthrie to construct another facility with 1.2 GW of capacity.

While financial details have not been disclosed, industry analysts estimate the total investment at around 5.4 billion ringgit ($1.3 billion). Upon completion, the projects are expected to supply clean, scalable power dedicated to the growing cluster of data centers across the country.

“With our combined strengths and bankability, we can support our data centre partner with a dedicated, sustainable and scalable pipeline of renewable energy to ensure these crucial facilities can operate at a reduced carbon footprint,” said Joshua Kong Sing Hoe, director of Gamuda Energy.

Data Centers Drive Demand

Malaysia is fast emerging as one of Asia Pacific’s hottest data center destinations. Global technology titans including Alibaba, Google, and Microsoft are establishing hyperscale cloud and AI infrastructure in the country, thanks to its strategic location, strong connectivity, and government incentives.

The energy demand from these facilities is enormous. A single hyperscale data center can consume as much electricity as a small city. As these facilities multiply, the need for renewable energy to ensure sustainable growth has never been greater.

“Malaysia’s digital economy is growing rapidly, bringing with it rising demand for reliable and sustainable power,” said Low Kian Min, chief renewables officer of Gentari.

Gamuda has already secured contracts worth about 2.7 billion ringgit ($642 million) from Google alone in recent years—further cementing its position as a key infrastructure partner for global technology firms investing in Malaysia.

From Construction to Clean Energy Champion

Founded nearly five decades ago, Gamuda built its reputation on major construction and infrastructure projects in Malaysia, later expanding into real estate development and overseas ventures in Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the U.K. Today, the group is repositioning itself for a future where sustainability and digital transformation converge.

Its pivot into large-scale renewable energy aligns with Malaysia’s ambitions to reduce carbon emissions, while also catering to multinational corporations eager to meet their green commitments. For Gamuda, the strategy also diversifies its revenue streams and positions the company at the forefront of Asia’s clean energy transition.

Looking Ahead

With the current pipeline of solar projects and its strategic alliances with state-linked and private sector partners, Gamuda is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping Malaysia’s energy future.

As more global cloud players establish data hubs in the region, the demand for large-scale, low-carbon energy solutions is set to soar—opening opportunities for companies like Gamuda to bridge the gap between infrastructure development and the green economy.

From pouring concrete for highways to harvesting sunlight for hyperscale data centers, Gamuda’s evolution reflects not just the story of a company but the transformation of Malaysia’s economy itself—one that is rapidly shifting toward digitalization, sustainability, and global relevance.