Microsoft is set to launch its first cloud region in Malaysia, featuring three data centers in the Kuala Lumpur area by mid-year. The investment follows an announcement last year of a $2.2 billion commitment to the Southeast Asian country. The Malaysia West cloud will commence operations in the second quarter, revealed Laurence Si, Microsoft Malaysia's managing director, during a press conference. The capacity of the data centers was not disclosed. When questioned about potential challenges in exporting chips to Malaysia due to U.S. export controls, Si stated that Microsoft was closely monitoring the situation, ensuring their investment plans remained on track. Microsoft's $2.2 billion investment aims to expand cloud and artificial intelligence services over the next four years in Malaysia, generating an estimated $10.9 billion in revenue and creating over 37,000 new jobs. This move is expected to catalyze innovation for local businesses and organizations, positioning Malaysia as a hub for cloud and AI advancements in Southeast Asia.