Malaysia denies clearing Megaspeed, checks for illegal chip re-exports

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Firm’s Malaysian affiliate Speedmatrix imports its own servers and AI chips for use at rented data centres in country, says Miti

Firm’s Malaysian affiliate Speedmatrix imports its own servers and AI chips for use at rented data centres in country, says Miti

[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) has clarified that it has never cleared Singapore-based Megaspeed International or its Malaysian affiliate Speedmatrix, and is actively reviewing whether artificial intelligence chips brought into the country have been improperly re-exported.

In a statement on Friday (Nov 13), Miti said Speedmatrix, a tenant at Malaysian data centres, brings its own servers and AI chips into the country for its operations.

Importing AI chips does not currently require a permit or licence. However, exporting, re-exporting, transhipping or transiting high-performance US AI chips from or through Malaysia has required a Miti permit under the Strategic Trade Act 2010 since July 2025.

Providing false information to customs about such goods is also a serious offence under the Customs Act 1967, it added.

The ministry also highlighted that the routine verification visits to data centres occupied by Speedmatrix were part of its regular monitoring of the sector and should not be interpreted as clearing the companies of wrongdoing.

“Any verification visits carried out by Miti at these facilities are part of its regular monitoring of the data centre sector, and should not be taken to mean that a company has been cleared. Any suggestion otherwise is inaccurate,” it said.

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The clarification comes amid scrutiny of Megaspeed over suspected diversion of restricted Nvidia AI chips to China. Bloomberg has reported that the US Justice Department was working with the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security on the investigation.

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