D01.03.03 MDCO Dialogue Instrument with Ar. IDr. Ts. Sahrudin Omar on Planning Considerations for Low Frequency Noise

ByMalaysia Data Centre Observatory

Dialogue Series: D01 — Low Frequency Noise During Data Centre Planning Approval
Dialogue Reference: D01.03 — Political and Public Representatives
Record: D01.03.03 — Ar. IDr. Ts. Sahrudin Omar
Date Issued: 14 August 2026
Status: Awaiting Response

Reference Research:
→A09.01 — Why Low-Frequency Noise Becomes a Community Conflict
→A09.02 Estimating Low-Frequency Noise from a Typical Data Centre
→A09.03 Low Frequency Noise Effects: What Research Shows
→A09.04 Data Centre Low Frequency Noise in Planning Approval by Local Councils
→A09.07 Community Concerns on Data Centre Development in Malaysia and Lessons Learned
→D01.01 Low Frequency Noise During Data Centre Planning Approval

Dialogue Purpose

This Dialogue Record documents MDCO’s formal engagement with the dialogue partner to seek clarification and views on current planning considerations for low frequency noise (LFN) associated with data centre developments.

MDCO’s Current Understanding:

  1. Sections 22(2), 22(3) and 22(5) of Act 172 appear to provide Local Planning Authorities with broad discretion to consider matters necessary for proper planning and impose appropriate planning conditions, including where relevant environmental acoustic considerations such as LFN may arise.
  2. Publicly available legislation and guidance reviewed by MDCO did not identify any specific published requirement addressing LFN assessment for data centre developments during the planning approval process.
  3. Conventional environmental noise assessment generally relies on overall A-weighted sound levels (dBA), while international acoustic practices indicate that frequency-based analysis may provide additional information where significant low-frequency sources exist.
  4. Act 172 appears to provide Local Planning Authorities with flexibility to incorporate appropriate planning conditions where necessary to manage potential environmental impacts associated with approved developments.
  5. The rapid growth of data centre developments and advances in acoustic research may require continued consideration of how planning practices and technical guidance address potential LFN-related issues.

Additional Findings from Dialogue Responses

No additional information was available from the dialogue process as of the publication date.

Dialogue Instrument Submitted

Original letter in Malay language:

Ruj. Kami:       MDI-2026-03-03-ARSO
Melalui Emel: support@bersama.org, arkiteksahrudinomar@gmail.com

14 Ogos 2026

Ar. IDr. Ts. Sahrudin Omar
Parti Bersama Malaysia (BERSAMA)
No. 41, Jalan PP 16/4
Perdana Industrial Park, Taman Putra Perdana
47130 Puchong
Selangor Darul Ehsan

Tuan,

PER: PERMOHONAN PENJELASAN DAN PANDANGAN BERHUBUNG PERTIMBANGAN PERANCANGAN BAGI BUNYI FREKUENSI RENDAH (LOW FREQUENCY NOISE) DALAM PEMBANGUNAN PUSAT DATA

Dengan segala hormatnya perkara di atas adalah dirujuk.

  1. Kami, Malaysia Data Centre Observatory (MDCO) ingin memohon pandangan serta mendapatkan penjelasan berhubung dengan beberapa soalan penting berkaitan dengan pembangunan pusat data. Usaha ini selaras dengan prinsip teras MDCO yang mendukung kesaksamaan capaian maklumat (equal access to information) bagi semua pihak berkepentingan, termasuk melalui usaha mendapatkan, mendokumentasikan dan menyebarluaskan pandangan serta maklumat yang relevan secara seimbang dan telus, demi menyokong pembangunan industri pusat data di Malaysia yang mampan, harmoni, dan berintegriti.
  2. Sebagai latar belakang, MDCO mengambil maklum tentang isu dan kebimbangan komuniti setempat yang berkaitan dengan pembangunan pusat data di kawasan Iskandar Puteri baru-baru ini (Lampiran 1). MDCO mengambil maklum mengenai komitmen BERSAMA terhadap libat urus komuniti serta penglibatan Tuan sebagai wakil BERSAMA dalam meneliti isu setempat di kawasan Kota Iskandar. Di samping itu, MDCO juga mengambil kira pengalaman profesional Tuan dalam bidang seni bina, perancangan dan pembangunan, termasuk pengalaman berkaitan dengan pembangunan di kawasan Iskandar Puteri. Dalam konteks ini, MDCO berpandangan bahawa pengalaman profesional dan perspektif Tuan adalah amat relevan dalam meneliti aspek perancangan serta impak komuniti yang berkaitan dengan pembangunan pusat data, khususnya di Iskandar Puteri.
  3. Mengambil kira perkembangan pembangunan pusat data serta peningkatan jumlah pusat data yang bakal beroperasi sepenuhnya pada masa hadapan, MDCO kini menjalankan kajian terperinci tentang kualiti persekitaran akustik, khususnya Bunyi Frekuensi Rendah (Low Frequency Noise, LFN). Kajian dan kes antarabangsa menunjukkan bahawa LFN yang dikaitkan dengan pengoperasian pusat data telah menimbulkan gangguan kepada komuniti dan, dalam sesetengah kes, membawa kepada pertikaian undang-undang di Amerika Syarikat (Lampiran 2). MDCO juga mengambil maklum bahawa bunyi dan getaran frekuensi rendah yang dihasilkan oleh kelengkapan mekanikal pusat data berpotensi tersebar pada jarak yang agak jauh dan menjejaskan keselesaan komuniti setempat (Lampiran 3 dan 4).
  4. Berdasarkan pemahaman semasa MDCO daripada hasil kajian ini, peruntukan sedia ada di bawah Akta Perancangan Bandar dan Desa 1976 (Akta 172) memberikan ruang pertimbangan dan budi bicara kepada Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) selaku Pihak Berkuasa Perancang Tempatan (PBPT) untuk menangani aspek alam sekitar yang berkaitan (Lampiran 5). Sehubungan dengan itu, MDCO telah memulakan siri dialog dengan Datuk Bandar dan Yang Dipertua PBT di Negeri Johor (Lampiran 6) dan pemaju pusat data. Walau bagaimanapun, berdasarkan semakan maklumat awam dan penerokaan awal melalui siri dialog tersebut, MDCO belum menemukan maklumat terbuka yang menunjukkan bahawa penilaian LFN dipertimbangkan secara khusus pada peringkat Kebenaran Merancang (KM).
  5. Sehubungan dengan itu, MDCO amat menghargai sekiranya Tuan, dalam kapasiti sebagai wakil BERSAMA di kawasan Iskandar Puteri serta berdasarkan pengalaman profesional Tuan dalam bidang seni bina, perancangan dan pembangunan, dapat meneliti pemahaman semasa MDCO serta mengemukakan pandangan berhubung dengan soalan-soalan berikut:

6.1 Peruntukan Perundangan di bawah Akta 172

  • Pemahaman Semasa MDCO: Hasil kajian MDCO menunjukkan bahawa subseksyen 22(2), 22(3) dan 22(5) Akta 172 memberikan kuasa budi bicara yang luas kepada Pihak Berkuasa Perancang Tempatan (PBPT) untuk mempertimbangkan perkara-perkara yang perlu bagi tujuan perancangan yang sewajarnya, serta mengenakan syarat-syarat Kebenaran Merancang (KM). Walaupun Akta 172 tidak menyebut secara khusus berkenaan LFN, peruntukan sedia ada dilihat cukup terangkum untuk membolehkan pertimbangan akustik alam sekitar diambil kira.
  • Permohonan Penjelasan / Pandangan:
    • Adakah Tuan berpandangan bahawa Akta 172 menyediakan kuasa perundangan yang mencukupi untuk membolehkan pihak PBT/PBPT mempertimbangkan potensi kesan LFN dalam proses Kebenaran Merancang (KM)?
    • Pada pandangan Tuan, dalam keadaan atau senario bagaimanakah potensi kesan LFN wajar dipertimbangkan oleh pihak PBT/PBPT dalam proses perancangan dan kelulusan pembangunan pusat data?

6.2 Amalan Semasa Penilaian Perancangan

  • Pemahaman Semasa MDCO: Berdasarkan perundangan perancangan dan garis panduan sedia ada untuk rujukan awam, MDCO tidak menemukan maklumat terbuka yang menunjukkan bahawa keperluan atau garis panduan khusus berkaitan LFN telah ditetapkan dalam proses KM bagi pembangunan pusat data.
  • Permohonan Penjelasan / Pandangan:
    • Adakah isu potensi gangguan LFN pernah diutarakan kepada Tuan atau menjadi perkara yang dibincangkan dalam perbincangan berkaitan dasar atau perancangan pembangunan pusat data berskala besar?
    • Pada pandangan Tuan, adakah kaedah penilaian perancangan perlu berbeza mengikut skala pembangunan, jarak zon penimbal ke kawasan kediaman, atau keadaan setempat?
    • Adakah Tuan melihat keperluan untuk Kerajaan Negeri atau PBT mewujudkan garis panduan teknikal khusus berkaitan LFN bagi mengurangkan risiko konflik antara pembangunan industri dengan kawasan kediaman pada masa hadapan?

6.3 Kaedah Penilaian Teknikal

  • Pemahaman Semasa MDCO: Penilaian bunyi alam sekitar secara konvensional lazimnya berasaskan tahap bunyi keseluruhan mengikut pemberat A (A-weighted sound levels, dBA). Walau bagaimanapun, dalam senario yang melibatkan peralatan mekanikal berskala besar yang berpotensi menghasilkan LFN yang ketara, kaedah penilaian terperinci seperti analisis jalur oktaf (octave-band analysis) mungkin diperlukan.
  • Permohonan Penjelasan / Pandangan:
    • Adakah Tuan menyokong cadangan supaya kajian akustik khusus atau penilaian ramalan bunyi berkaitan LFN dipertimbangkan bagi permohonan pembangunan pusat data berskala besar yang berhampiran dengan kawasan kediaman?
    • Adakah Tuan berpandangan bahawa maklumat akustik yang relevan bagi peralatan mekanikal utama (cooling tower, chiller, standby generator) wajar didedahkan untuk semakan awam, tertakluk kepada keperluan melindungi maklumat komersial yang sensitif, demi meningkatkan ketelusan?
    • Pada pandangan Tuan, sekiranya LFN dikenal pasti sebagai risiko yang relevan, adakah penilaian akustik dalam laporan Penilaian Kesan Alam Sekitar (EIA) sedia ada memadai, atau wajar dilengkapi dengan mekanisme penilaian dan semakan yang lebih khusus?

6.4 Syarat-Syarat Kebenaran Merancang (KM)

  • Pemahaman Semasa MDCO: Akta 172 memberi kuasa kepada Pihak Berkuasa Perancang Tempatan (PBPT) untuk menilai dan mempertimbangkan permohonan kebenaran merancang dengan mengenakan syarat-syarat tambahan yang dianggap wajar, dengan demikian memberikan ruang fleksibiliti untuk menangani risiko dan aspek alam sekitar yang berkaitan.
  • Permohonan Penjelasan / Pandangan:
    • Pada pandangan Tuan, adakah PBT/PBPT perlu mempertimbangkan syarat-syarat Kebenaran Merancang (KM) tertentu bagi mengawal potensi kesan LFN, seperti penetapan zon penimbal, kawalan akustik terperinci, atau pemantauan pascapengoperasian?
    • Pada pandangan Tuan, apakah faktor utama yang wajar dipertimbangkan oleh pihak PBT/PBPT dalam menetapkan syarat KM bagi pembangunan pusat data?

6.5 Hala Tuju Amalan Perancangan Masa Hadapan

  • Pemahaman Semasa MDCO: Industri pusat data di Malaysia berkembang pesat, manakala pemahaman saintifik dan amalan penilaian berkaitan LFN juga terus berkembang. MDCO mengambil maklum bahawa amalan perancangan akan terus berkembang sejajar dengan pengalaman industri dan perkembangan garis panduan teknikal.
  • Permohonan Penjelasan / Pandangan:
    • Adakah Tuan berpandangan bahawa kerangka kawal selia dan tatacara perancangan sedia ada di peringkat negeri dan daerah sudah memadai, atau terdapat keperluan untuk penambahbaikan termasuk pewujudan garis panduan teknikal khusus berkaitan LFN bagi melindungi komuniti?
    • Adakah Tuan sedia maklum tentang sebarang inisiatif, jawatankuasa, atau kajian di peringkat Kerajaan Negeri Johor, Dewan Negeri Johor, Kerajaan Persekutuan atau Parlimen Malaysia yang sedang meneliti isu LFN dan impak alam sekitar berkaitan dengan pembangunan pusat data?
  1. MDCO berhasrat untuk mendapatkan pandangan Tuan bagi memastikan penerbitan laporan kajian MDCO mengambil kira perspektif profesional serta pandangan berkaitan komuniti setempat secara saksama. Instrumen Dialog MDCO (MDCO Dialogue Instrument, MDI) ini serta maklum balas yang diterima akan didokumentasikan secara telus dalam siri laporan kajian MDCO. Bagi membolehkan pandangan Tuan dipertimbangkan dalam siri laporan ini, MDCO amat mengalu-alukan sebarang ulasan rasmi dalam tempoh 14 hari dari tarikh surat ini, sebelum dapatan kajian dimuktamadkan untuk penerbitan. Sekiranya maklum balas diterima selepas tempoh tersebut, MDCO tetap akan mengambil kira pandangan berkenaan dalam kemas kini laporan pada masa hadapan.
  2. Kerjasama dan keprihatinan Tuan serta pihak yang berkaitan dalam memberikan maklum balas berhubung dengan perkara ini amat dihargai dan didahului ucapan setinggi-tinggi terima kasih.

Sekian, terima kasih.

Yang benar,

(IR. DR. KOH SIONG LEE)
Pengarah Penyelidikan
Malaysia Data Centre Observatory (MDCO)

English Translation of the letter:

Our Ref.:          MDI-2026-03-03-ARSO
By Email:         support@bersama.org, arkiteksahrudinomar@gmail.com

14 August 2026

Ar. IDr. Ts. Sahrudin Omar
Parti Bersama Malaysia (BERSAMA)
No. 41, Jalan PP 16/4
Perdana Industrial Park, Taman Putra Perdana
47130 Puchong
Selangor Darul Ehsan

Tuan,

RE: REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION AND VIEWS ON PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR LOW FREQUENCY NOISE IN DATA CENTRE DEVELOPMENTS

With due respect, the above matter is referred.

  1. Malaysia Data Centre Observatory (MDCO) respectfully seeks Tuan’s views and clarification regarding several important questions relating to data centre development. This effort is aligned with MDCO’s core principle of supporting equal access to information for all stakeholders, including through efforts to obtain, document and disseminate relevant views and information in a balanced and transparent manner, in support of a sustainable, harmonious and responsible data centre industry in Malaysia.
  2. As background, MDCO takes note of the issues and concerns raised by the local community in relation to recent data centre developments in the Iskandar Puteri area (Appendix 1). MDCO also notes BERSAMA’s commitment to community engagement, as well as your involvement as a BERSAMA representative in examining local issues in the Kota Iskandar area. In addition, MDCO also takes into consideration your professional experience in architecture, planning and development, including experience relating to development in the Iskandar Puteri area. In this context, MDCO considers your professional experience and perspective highly relevant in examining the planning considerations and community impacts associated with data centre development, particularly in Iskandar Puteri.
  3. Taking into consideration the data centres that are expected to become fully operational in the future, MDCO is currently conducting a detailed study on acoustic environmental quality, particularly Low Frequency Noise (LFN). International research and cases indicate that LFN associated with data centre operations has caused disturbance to communities and, in some cases, led to legal disputes in the United States (Appendix 2). MDCO also notes that low-frequency noise and vibration generated by mechanical equipment at data centres have the potential to propagate over relatively long distances and affect the amenity and comfort of local communities (Appendices 3 and 4).
  4. Based on MDCO’s current understanding arising from this study, existing provisions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172) provide Local Authorities (PBT), acting as Local Planning Authorities (PBPT), with scope for consideration and discretion in addressing relevant environmental aspects (Appendix 5). In this regard, MDCO has commenced a series of dialogues with Datuk Bandar/Yang Dipertua of PBTs in Johor (Appendix 6) and data centre developers. However, based on a review of publicly available information and preliminary exploration through these dialogue sessions, MDCO has not identified publicly available information indicating that LFN assessment is specifically considered at the Planning Permission (KM) stage.
  5. In this regard, MDCO would greatly appreciate if you, in your capacity as a BERSAMA representative in the Iskandar Puteri area and based on your professional experience in architecture, planning and development, could review MDCO’s current understanding and provide your views on the following questions:

6.1 Legal Provisions under Act 172

  • MDCO’s Current Understanding: MDCO’s review indicates that subsections 22(2), 22(3) and 22(5) of Act 172 provide Local Planning Authorities with broad discretionary powers to consider matters necessary for proper planning purposes and to impose conditions on Planning Permission (Kebenaran Merancang, KM). Although Act 172 does not specifically refer to LFN, the existing provisions appear sufficiently broad to allow environmental acoustic considerations to be taken into account.
  • Request for Clarification / Views:
    • Does Tuan consider that Act 172 provides sufficient legal authority to enable the PBT/PBPT to consider potential LFN impacts during the Planning Permission (KM) process?
    • In Tuan’s view, under what circumstances or scenarios should potential LFN impacts be considered by the PBT/PBPT in the planning and approval process for data centre developments?

6.2 Current Planning Assessment Practice

  • MDCO’s Current Understanding: Based on publicly available planning legislation and existing guidance, MDCO has not identified publicly available information indicating that any specific requirements or guidelines relating to LFN have been established for the Planning Permission (KM) process for data centre developments.
  • Request for Clarification / Views:
    • Has the issue of potential LFN disturbance ever been raised with you or discussed in relation to policy or planning discussions concerning large-scale data centre development?
    • In Tuan’s view, should the approach to assessing LFN impacts vary according to development scale, distance from residential areas (buffer zones), or site-specific conditions?
    • Does Tuan see a need for the State Government or PBT to establish specific technical guidelines relating to LFN to reduce the risk of conflict between industrial developments and residential areas in the future?

6.3 Technical Assessment Methods

  • MDCO’s Current Understanding: Conventional environmental noise assessments generally rely on overall A-weighted sound levels (A-weighted sound levels, dBA). However, in scenarios involving large-scale mechanical equipment that may generate significant LFN, more detailed assessment methods such as octave-band analysis (octave-band analysis) may be required.
  • Request for Clarification / Views:
    • Does Tuan support the proposal that specific acoustic studies or predictive noise assessments relating to LFN be considered for large-scale data centre development applications located near residential areas?
    • Does Tuan consider that relevant acoustic information relating to major mechanical equipment (such as cooling towers, chillers or standby generators) should be disclosed for public review, subject to the need to protect commercially sensitive information, in order to enhance transparency?
    • In Tuan’s view, if LFN is identified as a relevant risk, are the acoustic assessments contained in existing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports adequate, or should they be supplemented by more specific assessment and review mechanisms?

6.4 Conditions of Planning Permission (KM)

  • MDCO’s Current Understanding: Act 172 empowers Local Planning Authorities to assess and consider Planning Permission applications by imposing additional conditions considered appropriate, thereby providing flexibility to regulate potential environmental risks.
  • Request for Clarification / Views:
    • In Tuan’s view, should the PBT/PBPT consider specific Planning Permission (KM) conditions to manage potential LFN impacts, such as the establishment of buffer zones, detailed acoustic control measures, or post-operational monitoring?
    • In Tuan’s view, what are the key factors that should be considered by the PBT/PBPT in imposing KM conditions for data centre developments?

6.5 Future Direction of Planning Practice

  • MDCO’s Current Understanding: The data centre industry in Malaysia is expanding rapidly, while scientific understanding and assessment practices relating to LFN continue to evolve. MDCO notes that planning practices will likewise continue to evolve in line with industry experience and the development of technical guidelines.
  • Request for Clarification / Views:
    • Does Tuan consider that the existing regulatory framework and planning procedures at the state and district levels are adequate, or is there a need for improvements, including the establishment of specific technical guidelines relating to LFN to protect communities?
    • Is Tuan aware of any initiatives, committees, or studies at the level of the Johor State Government, the Johor State Legislative Assembly, the Federal Government, or the Parliament of Malaysia that are currently examining LFN issues and environmental impacts associated with data centre developments?
  1. MDCO seeks to obtain your views to ensure that MDCO’s published research reports take into account, in a balanced manner, the professional perspective as well as views relating to the local community. This MDCO Dialogue Instrument (MDCO Dialogue Instrument, MDI) and any responses received will be documented transparently as part of the MDCO research series. To enable your views to be considered in this research series, MDCO would greatly welcome any official comments within 14 days from the date of this letter, before the findings are finalised for publication. Should any feedback be received after this period, MDCO will nevertheless take such views into consideration for incorporation into future updates of the research.
  2. The cooperation and kind consideration of Tuan and the relevant parties in providing feedback on this matter are greatly appreciated, and we wish to express our sincere thanks in advance.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

(IR. DR. KOH SIONG LEE)

Director of Research
Malaysia Data Centre Observatory (MDCO)

Feedback and Responses Received

None as of the publication date.

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