On September 8, 2026, AI infrastructure company Firmus announced a multi-year agreement with OpenAI to supply computing capacity from two Malaysian data centers. The deal brought Firmus' contracted capacity across customers to more than 900MW. Firmus currently has two operational AI data centers in Australia and Singapore and five under development across Asia-Pacific. Reuters also describes Malaysia as Southeast Asia's fastest-growing data center market.

Core server halls are not major traditional stone applications, but large AI data center campuses often include offices, reception areas, meeting facilities, staff amenities, washrooms, food-service areas, visitor centers and other support buildings. These spaces create demand for flooring, wall finishes, vanities, reception counters and fabricated architectural surfaces.

What Changed in Malaysia's AI Data Center Market?

The Firmus/OpenAI agreement covers two Malaysian data centers and makes OpenAI an anchor customer. Firmus said its contracted capacity across customers has exceeded 900MW and plans to deploy Nvidia's next-generation Vera Rubin processors at scale across Asia-Pacific.

Reuters separately reported that Malaysian data centers consumed a record 9.3% of national electricity in early August 2026, compared with an average of about 7% during the year. Higher temperatures increased cooling demand, while power and water availability are becoming important constraints on continued expansion.

This shows that the opportunity is evolving from individual server facilities into a broader data-center ecosystem involving power, cooling, offices, support buildings and campus infrastructure.

Key Market Data

Metric	Public information	Why it matters for suppliers
Firmus contracted capacity	More than 900MW	Large and expanding AI infrastructure pipeline
Malaysia deal	OpenAI capacity from two Malaysian data centers	Malaysia is becoming a strategic AI infrastructure location
Asia-Pacific portfolio	2 operational + 5 under development	Potential for continuing campus construction
Malaysia data center electricity use	Reached 9.3% of national consumption in early Aug 2026	Power, water and cooling are major project constraints
Market position	One of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing data center markets	Supports long-term project and customer development

 

Where Are Stone and Surface Materials Actually Used?

Area	Potential materials	Procurement priorities
Headquarters / offices	Flexible stone, porcelain slabs, quartz/zero-silica countertops	Weight, maintenance, corporate design
Reception / visitor center	Natural marble, inorganic terrazzo, porcelain slab	Design, durability, project submittal
Washrooms	Quartz/zero-silica vanities, porcelain slab, wall finishes	Consistency, cleaning, fabrication
Staff pantry / food-service	Quartz/zero-silica countertops	Bulk fabrication and repeat delivery
Meeting / training spaces	Marble, flexible stone, porcelain slabs	Feature walls and visitor-facing spaces
Public corridors / high-traffic areas	Inorganic terrazzo, natural stone	Durability and long-term maintenance

 

Why Does a Data Center Campus Favor Multi-Material Project Supply?

A data center campus may include server buildings, offices, reception spaces, control centers, staff amenities and supporting facilities. Each area has different requirements for performance, weight, appearance and fabrication.

Reception spaces may use natural stone or terrazzo, office and feature walls may use flexible stone or porcelain slabs, while washrooms and pantries require fabricated countertop surfaces. A project-oriented supplier that coordinates materials, fabrication, documentation, packing and phased delivery can reduce procurement complexity.

How Can Different Materials Enter Malaysia Data Center Projects?

Material	Best-fit applications	Recommended positioning
Natural marble	Lobbies, reception, executive/public spaces	Premium public interiors + fabrication
Inorganic terrazzo	Public corridors, reception, staff facilities	Commercial/Public Flooring
Flexible stone	Walls, curved forms, ceilings, fast-track fit-out	Lightweight Wall Finish / Fit-out
Quartz / zero-silica surfaces	Pantries, washrooms, reception counters, repeat countertops	Bulk Countertop / Fabricator Supply
Porcelain slabs	Walls, washrooms, furniture surfaces	Large-format Architectural Surface
Custom fabrication	Countertops, vanities, cut-to-size and special pieces	CAD/Shop Drawing + Project Fabrication

 

Who Should Suppliers Target?

 

Data Center Developers

Define investment, campus standards and supply-chain frameworks.

Architects and Engineering Consultants

Specify office, public-area and support-building material systems.

Main Contractors

Control submittals, procurement, schedule and site coordination.

Fit-Out Contractors

Often make the final purchasing decisions for walls, flooring, countertops and public interiors.

Stone and Countertop Fabricators

Potential partners for slab supply, repeat fabrication and local support.

Malaysian Building Material Distributors

Can provide local stock, installation coordination and project follow-up.

When Should Suppliers Enter?

Project stage	Recommended action
Announcement / development	Build a Project Lead Map and track developer, consultant and site
Design	Provide samples, technical data, comparisons and application guidance
Main contractor / subcontractor awards	Begin vendor registration and corporate qualification
Material submittal	Provide tests, specifications, samples and relevant technical documents
Bulk procurement	Quote and deliver by building/zone with fabrication and packing plans

 

FAQ

Do server halls use large amounts of stone?

Usually not. Core server spaces prioritize equipment, cooling, power and functional flooring systems. Stone opportunities are mainly in offices, reception, washrooms, staff facilities and other campus support buildings.

Is flexible stone relevant to data center projects?

It can be relevant in non-core technical areas such as walls, curved forms, ceilings and fit-out spaces, subject to product-specific performance, substrate, installation system and project requirements.

Where is inorganic terrazzo relevant?

High-traffic public areas, reception zones, corridors and selected office/staff facilities are worth evaluating.

Where can zero-silica surfaces be used?

Pantries, washrooms, reception counters and other fabricated countertop areas are potential applications. Product claims should remain tied to the corresponding test evidence and local requirements.

How should a Chinese supplier enter Malaysian data center projects?

Do not only approach data center operators. Build the full chain: developer → consultant → main contractor → fit-out contractor → stone/countertop subcontractor → local distributor.

About Wayon Stone

Founded in 1982, Wayon Stone supplies quartz stone, zero-silica surfaces, inorganic terrazzo, flexible stone, natural marble, porcelain slabs and other architectural surface materials to international project, wholesale, fabrication and professional customers, together with countertop, cut-to-size and custom project fabrication services. For large campus developments, Wayon can coordinate multi-material packages and phased supply according to project requirements.

 

Original Sources

Reuters — Firmus signs deal with OpenAI for Malaysia data centre capacity

Reuters — Malaysian data centres guzzle more power as temperatures soar