KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia aims to position itself as a hub of generative AI and has outlined key goals for the next 12 months, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar was speaking at the "Mantap Malaysia Bersama AI" event hosted by Google today.
"We want Malaysia to succeed. We believe Malaysian companies and civil society can absorb this and forge our nation to be a successful vibrant economy, hopefully, the best in the region," he said.
He said while the country took initiatives related to AI, it, however, could not be denied that these initiatives were introduced after a series of discussions with the industry players including Google. Anwar said Google's collaborative role in giving the necessary input was based on its experience with other countries.
Anwar said to position Malaysia as a competitive player in the global AI landscape, the government had established the National Artificial Intelligence Office to coordinate all initiatives related to AI technology.
"InsyaAllah, in the next 12 months, we aim to achieve several key outcomes, including completing the AI Technology Action Plan (2026 to 2030).
"Twelve months, according to the minister. However, there is no reason to wait for 12 months when it should be completed within six months… otherwise, an adjustment to the cabinet," he said in jest, drawing laughter from the audience.
Anwar said the government also aimed to establish a regulatory framework to increase the adoption of ethical and sustainable AI technology, along with expediting AI adoption in key sectors across Malaysia.
The prime minister said that by leveraging partnerships with industry leaders and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, Malaysia could emerge as a leading AI-driven nation in Asean.
To further this goal, the Madani government launched the AI Talent Roadmap (2024–2030) and the Malaysia-Artificial Intelligence Consortium (MAIC), which will serve as the foundation for AI development.
"To fully harness technology's potential for economic growth, strategic policy interventions are necessary. Digital transformation is central to our economic plans, including the New Industrial Master Plan 2030," he said.
He added that positioning Malaysia as a hub for Generative AI would require substantial investments from technology partners to develop a secure and robust digital infrastructure. The Digital Ministry had been tasked with leading the country's digital transformation efforts, he said.
Highlighting the benefits of AI in public services, Anwar pointed to the Education Ministry's DELIMa platform, powered by Google's cloud technology, which serves 5.5 million students and teachers.
He called for similar technological advancements across government agencies to optimise processes, reduce costs and improve service delivery.
As Malaysia prepares to assume the Asean chairmanship next year, Anwar said the country would advocate for progressive digital policies that encouraged technological advancement and foster cross-border collaborations within the region.