PRESS RELEASE
MALAYSIA MOVES FORWARD WITH AI STRATEGY GROUNDED IN LOCAL VALUES AND GLOBAL INSIGHT Ministry of Digital Marks AI Strategy Milestone with Ministerial Engagement and Working Group Reflections
KUALA LUMPUR, 19 April 2025 – Malaysia is embracing a bold new chapter in its digital transformation, bringing together 210 experts from across the country and around the world to co-create an artificial intelligence (AI) future that is not only innovative but deeply human.
Today, the National AI Office (NAIO) through the Ministry of Digital, hosted a milestone engagement session with YBhg. Tuan Fabian Bigar, Secretary General, Ministry of Digital, representing the YB Minister of Digital, and members of the NAIO Working Groups. These working groups were formed to build a national AI strategy rooted in Malaysia’s values, voices, and lived experiences with the aim of delivering real impact to businesses, communities, and the everyday Rakyat.
Launched on 27 February 2025, the Working Groups comprise Malaysians and international contributors in the country and abroad, from across sectors, from tech entrepreneurs and civil servants to ethicists, academics, and AI practitioners. In just under two months, they’ve helped establish a new model for policymaking: one that is fast, inclusive, and designed for real-world implementation.
The Working Groups are currently developing proposals across seven priority areas critical to building a resilient, future-ready AI landscape: AI governance and ethics, to ensure a human-centred approach while aligning with national values; AI regulation and policy, to propose a structured regulatory framework facilitative to the national vision; AI advisory, to promote increased adoption of AI in local businesses; AI safety, to prioritise safety against unintended AI harms; AI security, to identify priority risks against external threats; AI sovereignty, to ensure Malaysia’s long-term strategic autonomy; and AI talent, to propose a robust AI talent pipeline to grow local expertise.
“AI is not just about technology. It’s about trust, values, and impact,” said YBhg. Tuan Fabian Bigar during the engagement. “We’re not here to copy and paste solutions from abroad. We are building a uniquely Malaysian approach, one that empowers our people, protects their rights, and ensures no one is left behind.” FOR The initiative follows a three-month sprint structure, with the first checkpoint on 27 March focused on aligning direction and fostering knowledge exchange between groups. The second checkpoint, set for 29 April, will see the presentation of first draft deliverables. The process will conclude with a final checkpoint on 29 May, where fully refined outputs will be presented to NAIO, forming the backbone of Malaysia’s national AI roadmap.
Head of NAIO, Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid, praised the collaborative spirit of the Working Groups. “This is a rare and powerful moment. We’re not just drafting policy, we’re building the foundation of a national AI ecosystem that reflects who we are, and who we want to be. Our approach is proudly Malaysian, regionally relevant, and globally competitive.”
The Working Groups’ contributions are expected to shape how AI supports small and medium enterprises, enhances digital public services, builds responsible data governance, and nurtures local talent. More importantly, the work sets the tone for AI that is ethical, inclusive, and grounded in the everyday lives of Malaysians.
With plans to unveil the full national AI strategy later this year, the Ministry of Digital believes this engagement signals more than just a halfway point — it marks the beginning of a new mindset: one where Malaysia takes ownership of its AI future, guided by both innovation and empathy.
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Issued by:
Corporate Communications Division
Ministry of Digital
