Entrepreneurship in the territories: is it the right time?
We are seeking a dynamic and highly capable Stakeholder Engagement Manager to lead government and regulatory engagement for our digital infrastructure (e.g. data centre) and renewable energy development projects across Malaysia. This role requires a strategic communicator with a proven track record of working closely with ministries, regulatory bodies, and government-linked agencies to facilitate investment approvals, align with national priorities, and secure timely permits. You will be embedded in our Malaysia development team, collaborating with internal project leads, external consultants, legal advisors, and JV partners to ensure successful stakeholder engagement and regulatory compliance.
Key Responsibilites
Government & Stakeholder Liaison
- Act as primary liaison with Malaysian government agencies, including MITI, MIDA, MDEC, CGSO, MCMC, EC, PLANMalaysia, TNB, and state-level authorities
- Arrange and support high-level engagements (Ministerial, PMO, regulatory heads) for project approvals, briefings, or site visits
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders in federal and state governments, GLCs, and investment promotion agencies
Permitting & Regulatory Strategy
- Map out all permitting requirements and timelines for data centre and renewable energy projects (including but not limited to land conversion, planning approvals, grid connection, environmental compliance, water use, telecommunications, and fire safety)
- Manage the application process for all required permits and approvals for both renewable energy and data centre projects, including coordinating with relevant local governmental authorities, attending meetings, and travelling across Malaysia as needed to facilitate submissions and approvals
- Support the identification, application, and documentation of available tax incentives, subsidies, and strategic investment programs (e.g. DESAC, GITA, Green Technology incentives)
- Coordinate permitting consultants and internal teams to prepare, track, and submit applications
- Ensure regulatory compliance across all project phases by engaging with authorities and anticipating policy shifts
Strategic Communications & Policy Advocacy
- Support development of white papers, briefing notes, or talking points for external engagements and internal updates
- Translate complex policy or technical information into persuasive messages tailored to different agencies or stakeholders
- Monitor and engage in ongoing discussions around data economy regulations, cloud infrastructure, ESG and digital policy frameworks
Internal & External Coordination
- Collaborate with investment, legal, engineering, and project management teams to align permitting efforts with project timelines.
- Assist in stakeholder reporting, media briefings, and event management (e.g. project launches, conferences, ribbon cuttings).
