SCMP
Hong Kong English-language newspaper; reported Johor data-centre applicants face mid-2027 water connection delays.
Last refreshed: 6 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
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Reported applicants in Johor told to await water connections until mid-2027
Data Centres: Boom and Backlash: Johor halts data-centre approvals after water protest- What did the South China Morning Post report about Johor data centres?
- SCMP reported that data-centre applicants in Johor, Malaysia are being told to wait until mid-2027 for water connections, following the state's halt to Tier 1 and Tier 2 approvals after Malaysia's first water-rights protest.Source: SCMP
- Is the South China Morning Post independent of China's government?
- SCMP is owned by Alibaba Group, which has ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Press-freedom organisations have noted the ownership, though SCMP maintains editorial policies independent of mainland state media. Its Southeast Asian business reporting is widely used by international investors.Source: press freedom organisations
- What is the best English-language source for Southeast Asian tech news?
- The South China Morning Post (SCMP) is the leading English-language newspaper covering Greater China and Southeast Asia. For data-centre developments, it provides regional intelligence on Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia that is upstream of most Western trade press.Source: SCMP
- How long has the South China Morning Post been publishing?
- SCMP was founded in 1903, making it one of Asia's oldest English-language newspapers. It was acquired by Alibaba Group in 2016 and is based in Hong Kong.Source: SCMP
Background
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that data-centre applicants in Johor, Malaysia are being told to wait until mid-2027 for water connections, corroborating The Diplomat's broader reporting on Johor's halt to Tier 1 and Tier 2 approvals following Malaysia's first water-rights protest against data-centre development. The SCMP's sourcing adds specificity to the Johor story — the mid-2027 date is the SCMP's attribution, not the Malaysian government's formal announcement.
The South China Morning Post is an English-language newspaper based in Hong Kong, founded in 1903. It was acquired by Alibaba Group in 2016 and is the primary English-language news source covering Greater China and Southeast Asia for a regional and international business audience. Its ownership by Alibaba has been noted by press-freedom organisations, though the SCMP maintains an editorial line independent of mainland Chinese state media.
For the data-centres topic specifically, SCMP provides Southeast Asian market intelligence — Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand — that is upstream of most Western trade press. Its reporting on Johor is the source for the mid-2027 water-connection date, making it a tier-2 source worth tracking for further Southeast Asian DC developments.