.webp)
TP has opened a new operations centre in Johor Bahru, expanding its presence in Malaysia.
The facility is designed to serve businesses in Singapore and across Southeast Asia, adding to TP's existing operations in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. It is positioned as a nearshore base for customer experience, digital operations and revenue services.
Located near the Singapore border within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, the Johor Bahru centre gives Singapore-based clients access to multilingual talent in Malaysia while keeping operations close enough for easier oversight, training and governance.
The move comes as companies in sectors including banking, financial technology, travel and hospitality seek cross-border operating models in Southeast Asia. Johor Bahru's proximity to Singapore has drawn growing interest from firms looking to balance labour access with regional connectivity.
For TP, the new site extends its coverage in Malaysia and adds another delivery point in a market that continues to attract global business services operators. The centre is expected to support demand from Singapore-headquartered businesses, multinational groups and global business services centres expanding in the region.
Malaysia's wider digital services sector has grown in recent years, with the government highlighting rising investment in global business services. The Ministry of Digital says the country is home to 749 GBS companies and that industry revenue is projected to reach RM28.14 billion.
Regional demand
The Johor Bahru expansion also reflects the state's growing role in technology-enabled services and cross-border business operations. Johor has emerged as one of Malaysia's faster-growing economic regions, helped by its links to Singapore and its appeal to employers looking beyond more established urban centres.
The new facility will initially support a leading global eCommerce company. Future growth at the site is expected to come from multinational organisations and Singapore-based businesses that want operations close to their home market.
The centre will also contribute to TP's revenue services work in Malaysia, helping companies manage sales and revenue operations through a mix of specialised staff, technology and AI-enabled tools.
The investment also adds a hiring dimension, with TP seeking talent in one of Malaysia's fastest-growing metropolitan areas. The centre is expected to create roles in customer experience, digital operations and AI-enabled service delivery for enterprises operating across Southeast Asia.
Andy Rangel, Chief Executive Officer, TP in Malaysia, described the opening as part of the company's broader growth in the country.
"With established operations in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Johor Bahru enhances our national footprint and represents an important milestone in TP's growth across Malaysia," said Andy Rangel, Chief Executive Officer, TP in Malaysia.
He said the site would also strengthen TP's offering for clients in Singapore and the wider region.
"Beyond expanding our delivery capabilities, Johor Bahru gives us access to exceptional multilingual talent while creating a unique nearshore proposition for Singapore-based businesses looking for greater agility, scalability and operational resilience. As AI reshapes customer experience, we believe Johor Bahru will play an increasingly important role in helping organizations combine technology with skilled human expertise," said Rangel.
TP operates as part of a wider international group with teams in nearly 100 countries. In Malaysia, the addition of Johor Bahru gives the company a three-city operating base as it targets more work from regional and global clients.
The choice of Johor Bahru underlines a broader shift in Southeast Asia's services industry, where companies are looking for locations that combine labour supply, language skills and proximity to major commercial hubs. For Singapore-based firms, the city offers a base just across the Causeway with access to Malaysia's workforce and a lower-cost operating environment.
That combination has made Johor an increasingly important test case for cross-border services delivery between Malaysia and Singapore, particularly as businesses assess where to place customer support, back-office functions and digitally supported sales work.