KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 19): IJM Corp Bhd (KL:IJM) has secured two contracts with a combined value of RM561 million for the construction of data centres in Johor and an industrial manufacturing facility in Penang.

In a statement, IJM Corp said the RM508 million data centre construction project was awarded by an international data centre developer, whose name was not disclosed. The project involves the construction of two data centre buildings in Gelang Patah, Johor.

The first building is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2025 (3Q2025), while the second building is expected to be completed in 1Q2026.

The project was secured through a 50:50 joint venture between IJM Corp’s construction unit, IJM Construction Sdn Bhd, and Woh Hup Malaysia Sdn Bhd. This means IJM Corp’s share of the contract is valued at RM254 million.

Woh Hup Malaysia is a unit of Woh Hup (Private) Ltd, a Singapore-based civil engineering firm that secured its first data centre project in 2016 and has since completed six data centres in India, Indonesia, and Singapore for international developers.

Separately, IJM Construction has independently secured a RM307 million contract for the construction of a new electrical and electronics (E&E) manufacturing and warehousing facility in Batu Kawan, Penang.

The 560,000 sq ft facility, located on a 20-acre (8.09-hectare) plot within the Bandar Cassia Technology Park, is intended for a US-based company in the E&E sector.

The facility aims to support growth in the semiconductor capital equipment and healthcare device markets by developing the E&E supply chain ecosystem. Construction of the facility is set to begin this month, with completion expected by October 2025.

The two contracts have increased IJM Construction’s secured jobs year-to-date to RM1.9 billion. Including the RM6 billion outstanding order book as of March 31, the group’s total order book now stands at RM7.9 billion.

IJM Corp group chief executive officer and managing director Lee Chun Fai said that securing the contracts highlights IJM Construction’s expertise in managing complex projects on accelerated schedules, especially as specialist builders of industrial buildings, data centres, and integrated logistics centres.

“By leveraging advanced construction methods like Smart IBS (the industrialised building system) and our industry division’s pretensioned high-strength concrete spun piles, we ensure efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility. The increasing demand for data centres and E&E facilities aligns with our strategic focus, opening new avenues for growth in these critical sectors.

"Collaborating with reputable partners such as Woh Hup enhances our ability to meet industry demands and deliver reliable results,” he elaborated.

It is worth noting that IJM Corp had in June secured a contract to design and build a data centre for a subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia Bhd (KL:TM) in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, for RM331.7 million. The project — known as Block 2 of the Iskandar Puteri Data Centre — was secured from TM Technology Services Sdn Bhd, also via its wholly owned IJM Construction. Construction of the data centre will begin in July 2024 and is slated for completion by 3Q2025.

IJM Corp shares closed unchanged at RM3.20, giving the company a market capitalisation of RM11.67 billion. Year to date, the stock has surged 71%.