Indonesians and Malaysians push back against data centres

· Tech · Indonesia · Malaysia

Frustration is bubbling over in Indonesia and Malaysia over data centres, especially in regions bordering Singapore that are seen as prime locations for new tech facilities, the Straits Times and Japan Times reported. Residents complain they cannot cook or shower amid water and power strains, with a strong El Niño cycle exacerbating dry weather. The backlash mirrors a broader pattern: in US midterm elections, voters weighed in on more than 40 local measures on data centres and sided against them in all but one, and new governors in Texas and Georgia have called for moratoriums. The AI building boom faces its toughest political test yet as demand for power and water collides with local communities.

Why it matters：Community resistance in Southeast Asia and the US could slow the power- and water-hungry buildout that AI firms depend on, reshaping where data centres get built.

Key points

  • Residents say they cannot cook or shower amid water and power strain.
  • A strong El Niño has worsened dry weather in the region.
  • US voters rejected nearly all local data-centre measures on the ballot.

Sources (original reporting)

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