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PRESS RELEASE
GOVTECH FLAGSHIP REPORT: WORLD BANK AND MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DRIVE MALAYSIA'S PUBLIC SECTOR PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH FUTURE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
PUTRAJAYA, 22 July 2026 – The World Bank, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Digital (KD), today officially launched the GovTech Flagship Report titled 'Building Malaysia’s Future Government: Unlocking Public Sector Productivity with GovTech'. The event was officiated by YBhg. Tan Sri Shamsul Azri bin Abu Bakar, Chief Secretary to the Government.
This comprehensive report is specifically designed to support the next phase of Malaysia's public sector digital transformation agenda. The preparation of this report is the result of a strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Digital and its underlying agencies, including the National Digital Department (JDN) and the National AI Office (NAIO). It also benefited from deep technical consultation sessions with the Public Service Department (JPA), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), and the Ministry of Economy (KE).
The data credibility of this report is reinforced through a combination of global benchmarking, cross-governmental agency consultation sessions, and in-depth empirical analysis. The uniqueness of this report lies in the implementation of the first GovTech Skills Survey, jointly led by the World Bank and JPA. With the participation of over 16,500 civil servants from 28 Federal ministries, the survey successfully maps out a comprehensive vision regarding digital capability profiles, operational constraints, and the potential for transformation within the country's public delivery system.
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According to the report's findings, the key to further boosting Malaysia's digital government productivity has shifted from infrastructure development to strengthening institutions, workforce capabilities, and robust governance. In light of this, the report presents 15 strategic action recommendations guided by four (4) main pillars:
1.Platforms – Strengthening Digital Foundations: Focusing on enhancing interoperability, improving inter-agency data sharing, reducing system redundancy, and ensuring digital platforms are designed based on a whole-of-government approach.
2.People – Building a Digitally Capable Public Service: Survey findings show high enthusiasm among civil servants to adopt a digital work culture. Hence, focus should be given to developing digital leadership, empowering the recruitment and career pathways of digital talent, and investing in continuous learning.
3.Policies – Strengthening Governance for Delivery: Successful transformation depends not only on technology, but also requires effective governance, strong cross-ministerial coordination, clear accountability, and a shift in performance evaluation towards productivity impact and service delivery.
4.Participation – Delivering User-Centric Government Services: Expanding service design oriented toward the needs of citizens, businesses, and frontline civil servants, while building trust in the government's digital ecosystem and strengthening feedback mechanisms.
All these reforms provide a practical action plan to help Malaysia leapfrog beyond conventional digitalization, thereby leveraging it to build a more productive, agile, data-driven, and citizen-centric government.
According to the Minister of Digital, YB Gobind Singh Deo, this GovTech Flagship report is not merely an analytical document, but a crucial practical action plan in the phase of our public sector digital transformation. The findings from the joint study by the World Bank and JPA clearly show that our focus must now shift from sole infrastructure development to strengthening institutions, workforce capacity, and robust governance. He also emphasized that through the 15 strategic action recommendations outlined, the Ministry of Digital is committed to enhancing data sharing, empowering public service digital talent, and building systems centered on the needs of the people.
Through the Public Service Reform Agenda themed 'Accelerating Execution, Intensifying Reforms', Chief Secretary to the Government, YBhg. Tan Sri Shamsul Azri bin Abu Bakar emphasized the MADANI Government's commitment to making digitalization a key catalyst in building a more efficient, agile, responsive, and trusted public service. Recognizing the role of civil servants as drivers of change, the next phase of transformation will elevate existing initiatives such as MyDigital ID, MyGovCloud, and paperless services to higher levels through the formation of a structured Whole-of-Government ecosystem to create the best value for the well-being of the people and the nation.
This step is also seen as timely and aligned with national agendas such as the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, the Public Service Digitalization Strategy, and the Ministry of Digital Strategic Plan 2025–2030 (MDS 3.0), thereby strengthening the delivery system to place Malaysia on the right track toward realizing its AI Nation 2030 aspirations.
Moving forward, the World Bank expressed its full commitment to supporting the MADANI Government in realizing the recommendations of this report. This support encompasses technical assistance, human capital training, and ongoing collaboration in empowering the country's digital ecosystem.
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Issued by:
Ministry of Digital.
