KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 -- Malaysia's booming data centre industry is helping drive economic growth and foreign investment, but the OECD has warned that its rapid expansion is straining electricity and water supplies while creating relatively few jobs.

In its latest Economic Survey of Malaysia report, the organisation said resilient economic growth has been supported by the global technology boom, with investment boosted by the rapid expansion of data centres, particularly in Johor.

However, it noted that while construction activity has benefited significantly, the industry creates only a limited number of jobs compared with the scale of investment.

The survey was presented by Dr Luiz de Mello, director of the OECD's Country Studies Bran...