KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia is targeting to become an “AI-ready nation” by 2030 through the development of digital infrastructure, technology talent, and a comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem nationwide.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the government is now focused on preparing the country for rapid AI advancement, which is expected to form the backbone of future economic growth across multiple sectors.
He said the initiative goes beyond building technology infrastructure and data centres, and also involves developing a skilled workforce and support systems capable of driving Malaysia’s digital economy.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has a vision of developing an AI nation by 2030. Over the next five years, we are looking at how Malaysia can become truly AI-ready.
“An AI-ready nation is not just about infrastructure, but also about talent and how we build this new ecosystem,” he told reporters after the launch of the NEXTDC KL1 data centre in Petaling Jaya today.
Gobind added that Malaysia’s digital economy has shown strong growth, with its contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rising from 23.3% in 2023 to 25.5% in 2025.
He said the government is now aiming to increase the digital economy’s contribution to 30% by 2030.
He further noted that nearly all sectors in the future are expected to be powered by AI-driven technologies, requiring a new approach from policymakers to ensure the country remains prepared for this shift.
The government, he said, is therefore prioritising the development of a secure, sustainable, and well-regulated AI ecosystem to support next-generation technologies.
“The rapid development of AI is expected to have a significant impact not only on the economy, but also on society and governance systems.
“Previously, our focus was on digital connectivity, but now we see AI playing a crucial role in daily life, the economy, and national administration,” he said at a subsequent press conference.
“As such, Malaysia must ensure it has a well-prepared ecosystem that is properly regulated, secure, and sustainable to support this technological development.”
Gobind, who heads the Digital Ministry, said the establishment of the ministry in 2023 was a key step by the government in coordinating the country’s digital ecosystem.
He added that the government is also coordinating AI development through a special task force chaired by the Digital Ministry, bringing together various ministries and state governments under one platform.
“This is important because AI development and data centre expansion involve multiple stakeholders, including ministries responsible for communications, utilities, and state administrations.
“We want to ensure that every state is part of this journey, as many already have growing ecosystems. What matters is how we leverage all these assets to build something that benefits the whole of Malaysia,” he said.
Gobind also noted that the government’s focus is gradually shifting from 5G network development towards AI readiness, including the expansion of data centres that form the backbone of AI technologies.
He said Malaysia also has strong potential to emerge as a regional digital economy hub, given that ASEAN has a combined population of nearly 690 million people. - May 14, 2026
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