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COMMUNICATIONS Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo have called for a whole-of-nation approach to accelerate Malaysia’s readiness for artificial intelligence (AI), urging immediate improvements to the country's digital infrastructure, data governance and public trust.
Speaking at the Ministerial Forum: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Future Workforce, held as part of the International Young Future Leaders Summit (iFuture) 2025, both ministers highlighted the urgency of building a robust digital ecosystem to ensure Malaysia remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Fahmi stressed that AI must be viewed as a tool to enhance, not replace, human capability.
“What’s more important than using these technologies is to possess the right frame of mind. It’s no longer ‘to be or not to be’ but the question now is, what is the question?” he said, drawing laughter from attendees.
He noted that students tend to be more adaptive to AI than their lecturers or administrators, attributing this to generational openness and calling for leadership that sets the tone in responsible technology adoption.
“Those in leadership positions tend to be more conservative. But as leaders, we must show the way on how best to adapt and adopt emerging technologies,” he added, citing a McKinsey & Company report that found employees are often more ready than corporate leaders to embrace digital transformation.
Illustrating AI’s current limitations, Fahmi pointed to Pos Malaysia’s high-speed sorting machines, capable of processing 22,000 letters per minute, yet still dependent on humans to decipher unclear handwriting.
He also warned of the darker side of AI, particularly in the proliferation of deepfakes and digital scams.
“While AI offers tremendous opportunities, it also opens the door for abuse. Many have contacted me saying their faces were used in deepfake scams,” he said.
Gobind, meanwhile, focused on the foundational aspects of AI preparedness, underscoring the need for secure infrastructure, data integrity and public trust.
“We need to understand the philosophy behind AI. This gives us the perspective to craft strategies that prepare our country to take advantage of this technology,” he said.
He pointed to the recent enactment of the Data Sharing Act, effective from 28 April, as a critical step forward, enabling ministries and government agencies to securely digitise and share data for AI-driven solutions.
Gobind also highlighted Malaysia’s success in attracting global tech giants such as AWS, Microsoft, Google, Oracle and NVIDIA to invest in local data centres, ensuring the country has the computing capacity to support its ambitions.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s vision of making Malaysia an AI-driven nation by 2030.
“Confidence and readiness must grow alongside innovation. To avoid falling behind, action must be taken now,” he said.
Separately, Fahmi confirmed that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will move swiftly to implement the Sovereign AI Cloud policy, following the Prime Minister’s directive to strengthen national data security.
The initiative, led by MCMC under the guidance of the National Security Council (MKN), the Ministry of Digital and the Digital Department, aims to protect Malaysia’s strategic data from cyber threats, especially in the context of classified government information.
“This policy reflects developments in countries such as the United States and aims to reinforce the national data security ecosystem, particularly where classified information is involved and in line with the Official Secrets Act,” said Fahmi.
Commenting on the Ministry of Education’s recent request for the removal of viral videos relating to a school gang rape case in Melaka, Fahmi said MCMC will release an official statement on the matter. He urged the public to refrain from sharing such content and to exercise digital responsibility.
“If any content violates legislation such as the Child Act, the Communications and Multimedia Act, or the Penal Code, those responsible for its dissemination can face legal action,” he warned.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek earlier stated that the request aimed to prevent further harm and protect the privacy of those involved. - October12, 2025
