PUTRAJAYA: The Digital Ministry has launched a nationwide public consultation on a proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Bill, marking the country’s first step towards a unified legal framework for the technology.
The government, via the National AI Office, has begun a series of briefing sessions this month to outline the framework, which aims to set safety standards for AI development and adoption across the country.
According to a ministry statement, the draft bill uses a “risk-based approach” that tracks AI threats across a system’s entire lifespan. Rather than holding a single party responsible, legal obligations will be distributed based on who controls the technology at any given stage.
The legislation will not directly regulate AI-generated output. Speaking in parliament last month, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo clarified that issues involving illegal online content will continue to be handled under existing laws.
Instead, the new bill will focus on systemic safety, introducing incident-reporting systems and creating “AI sandboxes”—controlled environments where companies can safely test new software under regulatory supervision.
The ministry said the initiative is designed to create a “balanced, practical, and future-proof” framework based on international benchmarks.
“This process is vital to ensuring that the proposed bill takes into account diverse perspectives, the latest technological advancements, and the implementation needs across various sectors,” the statement added.
The public consultation went live today on the government’s Unified Public Consultation portal. Officials say the feedback will be used to refine the bill before it is finalised and presented to parliament, as part of Malaysia’s broader strategy to establish itself as a regional tech hub by 2030.
