Malaysian real estate developer Crescendo Corporation has struck another major land deal, this time selling a 22.5-acre parcel in Johor Bahru’s Nusa Cemerlang Industrial Park to tech giant Microsoft for RM119.8 million. This transaction marks the company’s second land sale to Microsoft this year, following a separate RM132.5 million deal for adjacent property in April 2024.
The strategic location of these land parcels in southern Johor, just across the Singapore border, positions them as prime real estate for data center development. Crescendo has established itself as a key player in this niche market, having previously sold industrial land in Johor to several major data center operators including STT GDC and Damac’s Edgnex.
Johor’s data center market has experienced significant growth as Singapore’s moratorium on new facilities pushes development across the border. The region now hosts operations from global players like Equinix, AirTrunk, and Keppel, creating a thriving ecosystem for digital infrastructure. Microsoft’s continued investment in Johor complements its existing Singapore cloud region, which launched in 2010 with three availability zones.
This latest transaction is expected to close by Q2 2027, further cementing Johor’s status as an emerging data center hub in Southeast Asia. The deal also aligns with Microsoft’s broader regional expansion plans, including its announced but yet-to-launch Azure cloud region in Kuala Lumpur.