Carey Island Port City, Data Centre Bill: Auction Land

Two planning stories from the past few days touch the same group of buyers: people who bid on industrial land, factories and large plots at bank auction in Selangor.

What happened

According to EdgeProp, the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN), chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has given in-principle approval to the National Maritime Port City and the Carey Island Port Special Economic Zone, and endorsed the Carey Island Master Development Plan. The Housing and Local Government Ministry said the port area covers 2,500 acres and would add capacity for 42 million TEUs of containers and 38 million tonnes of conventional cargo. Minister Nga Kor Ming said the project could create up to 115,000 jobs and add RM4.7 billion to GDP by 2045, and described the aim as making Malaysia "a regional maritime hub". He asked the Selangor government and the Kuala Langat Municipal Council to bring the project's land-use zones into the Kuala Langat Local Plan 2030 in a phased way. No investment figure or construction timeline was given.

Separately, EdgeProp, citing Bernama, reported that the government plans a Digital Infrastructure (Data Centre) Bill to keep data centre growth in line with the country's power and water capacity. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the bill is meant to go to the Cabinet in 2027. As of July 2026, 27 projects worth an estimated RM225.97 billion had been approved under the Data Centre Task Force: 16 in Johor, 10 in Selangor and 1 in Negeri Sembilan.

What it means for auction land and factory buyers

Carey Island is a long-horizon story, not a quick flip. An in-principle approval and a master plan are early steps. The detail that matters for land value, which parcels get industrial, logistics or commercial zoning, only arrives when the Kuala Langat Local Plan is amended. Until then, any seller or marketer who prices an auction lot in Banting, Jenjarom or Pulau Indah as if the port already exists is selling a promise. Treat the port as possible upside, and bid on what the land can legally be used for today.

Utilities now decide data centre land value. The planned bill makes power and water the gatekeepers. A plot near Cyberjaya, Sepang or Kuala Langat is only worth a data centre premium if it can realistically get large electricity and water supply approvals. For most auction land, the safer assumption is ordinary industrial use. If a proclamation of sale or an agent's pitch leans on data centre demand, ask what supply capacity actually exists at that site.

Auction pricing already rewards patience. Across all property types, BidNest's auction market report shows only 10.8% of lots sell in the first round, rising to 56.1% in round five or later, with each failed round cutting the reserve by about 10%. Selangor's overall clearance rate in that data is 39%. Large, specialised lots tend to attract fewer bidders, so a buyer who has done the zoning and utility homework can often wait for a lower round.

Practical steps before you bid

Check the land's category of use and any express conditions on the title at the land office, not just the description in the proclamation.
Ask the local council (for Carey Island, the Kuala Langat Municipal Council) about the current local plan zoning and whether amendments are being drafted.
For industrial land, ask TNB and the water operator about supply in the area before you price in any data centre or heavy industry use.
Budget for a longer holding period: planning approvals and infrastructure can take years.
Arrange financing early. Banks lend more cautiously on vacant land than on built property. This is general information, not financial or legal advice.

You can browse current auction land and factories and warehouses in Selangor on BidNest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the Carey Island port city been fully approved?

No. According to EdgeProp, the National Physical Planning Council gave in-principle approval and endorsed a master plan. The land-use zones still have to be built into the Kuala Langat Local Plan 2030, and no construction timeline has been announced.

Will auction land near Carey Island rise in value?

Nobody can promise that. Values may respond once zoning and infrastructure are confirmed, but plans can change or take many years. Bid on the land's current permitted use and treat the port as a possible bonus.

What does the data centre bill mean for industrial land at auction?

The proposed bill would tie data centre growth to available power and water, according to Bernama. Land without realistic access to large utility supply is unlikely to command a data centre premium, so value such lots as ordinary industrial land.

Is it better to bid in a later auction round for land?

BidNest's market report shows clearance rises from 10.8% in round one to 56.1% in round five or later, and reserves usually drop about 10% per failed round. Waiting can lower your price, but another bidder may buy the lot first.

If you are weighing an auction land or factory lot in Selangor, contact Crispina Ng, a lelong specialist and former banker, for help with due diligence and financing.