SPEECH
YB GOBIND SINGH DEO
MINISTER OF DIGITAL
MANTAP MALAYSIA BERSAMA AI
4 NOVEMBER 2026 | 3.30 PM
UNIVERSITI MALAYA, KUALA LUMPUR
1
SALUTATION
1. Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim
Prime Minister of Malaysia
2. Yang Berhormat Senator Dato’ Seri DiRaja Dr Zambry Abd
Kadir
Minister of Higher Education
3. Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzil
Minister of Communications
4. Yang Berhormat Tuan Sim Tze Tzin
Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry
5. Ms Ruth Porat
President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google
6. Mr. David H. Gamble, Jr.
Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Malaysia
Senior Government Officials,
Distinguished Guest,
Member of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Salam Perpaduan, Salam Malaysia MADANI and a very good
Afternoon.
1. It is a pleasure to join you today at Mantap Malaysia Bersama AI. I would like to thank Google for its continued confidence in Malaysia and its significant investment in our digital future. This investment marks an important milestone in Malaysia's digital transformation and reflects the strength of our growing partnership.
FROM AI INFRASTRUCTURE TO ECONOMIC VALUE
Ladies and Gentlemen,
2. Malaysia is entering the next phase of its digital transformation from a position of strength. We have attracted significant investments in data centres and AI compute infrastructure,supported by our established semiconductor and electronics industries, manufacturing capabilities and strategic location.
3. These investments provide a strong foundation for Malaysia's ambition to become an AI Nation by 2030, which is anchored on three outcomes: building an inclusive and sustainable AI Nation; positioning Malaysia as a regional technology production hub; and developing Made by Malaysia products and services that can compete in regional and global markets. Our priority is clear. We must translate these investments into lasting economic value for Malaysia and Malaysians.
4. This means creating value at two levels. First, by building around our AI compute centres. We want to develop the supporting industries and services that these investments require — from advanced engineering, electrical systems and cooling technologies to renewable energy, cybersecurity and specialised talent. These are opportunities to strengthen Malaysian businesses, develop local expertise and create high-value jobs.
5. Second, and even more importantly, by building on top of our AI compute centres. We want to harness this computing power to develop new technologies, AI applications, products and services. We want to attract researchers, developers, startups and global technology companies to innovate in Malaysia, while enabling Malaysian companies to develop solutions that can compete in regional and global markets.
6. Our ambition is not simply to build an economy that uses AI. We want to build an economy that creates with AI. One where our industries become more productive, our entrepreneurs build AI-native companies, and Made by Malaysia technologies become part of the global AI economy.
DEEPENING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOOGLE
7. Google is already an important partner in this journey. Through AI@Work, we are providing 445,000 civil servants with access to Google's AI tools to improve productivity and public services. Under AI Untuk Rakyat, Google is supporting our initiative to provide Malaysians youths with three months of free access to AI tools.
8. But I believe there is an opportunity to take this partnership much further. Today, I would like to invite Google to work with Malaysia as a strategic partner in developing our AI economy — moving beyond infrastructure investment to building the industries, talent, research capabilities and innovations that will generate lasting economic value.
9. One area where we can work together is our AI Cities initiative, a key programme under the National AI Action Plan 2026–2030. We envision AI Cities as living labs where government agencies, universities, researchers, Malaysian technology companies and global partners such as Google can develop, test and scale AI solutions to address real challenges — from traffic congestion and flood management to energy efficiency and more responsive public services.
10. We want these innovations to benefit communities across Malaysia, while creating opportunities for Malaysian companies to develop products and services that can eventually serve markets beyond our borders. This is how we can turn AI infrastructure into new economic opportunities and tangible improvements in people's lives.
BUILDING THE FUTURE TOGETHER
Ladies and Gentlemen,
11. Malaysia has laid important foundations for its AI future. We have the infrastructure, the industrial capabilities and a growing pool of talent. What matters now is how we bring these strengths together to create the next generation of Malaysian technologies and businesses. 1
2. We want to move from hosting world-class AI infrastructure to developing world-class AI capabilities in Malaysia. From attracting technology investment to creating Malaysian technologies. And from participating in the digital economy to helping shape its future.
13. I thank Google once again for its confidence and commitment to Malaysia. I look forward to building on this partnership, not only to strengthen Malaysia's position as a regional AI hub, but to create new opportunities for our businesses, our innovators and our people.
14. Let us build that future together.
Thank you.
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