Govt Remains Focused On Digital Initiatives To Benefit Citizens, Region - Wilson

CYBERJAYA, May 19 (Bernama) -- The government remains focused on ensuring Malaysia’s digital initiatives continue to deliver tangible benefits to citizens and the region, said Deputy Digital Minister Wilson Ugak Kumbong.

He said strengthening collaboration between government, industry and regional partners is key to accelerating innovation while safeguarding trust, inclusion and resilience.

“We are witnessing a clear shift towards more intelligent, secure and human-centred systems built on trust, collaboration and responsible innovation.

“As Malaysia advances its digital initiatives, our focus remains on ensuring these developments deliver tangible benefits to citizens and the region,” he said in his speech when officiating the one-day NextBigTech Asia conference here today.

Organised by Knowledge Group of Companies, the conference, now in its ninth edition, was held under the theme ‘Intelligent Nation, Healthier Future: Pioneering Trustworthy AI for Governance and Human Well-being’.

Meanwhile, Wilson said AI is rapidly reshaping how governments plan, deliver and improve public services, adding that the same trend is evident in Malaysia as the country continues to make steady progress in building a strong foundation for a data-driven and AI-enabled future.

“Our local councils are utilising AI and data for traffic management. Our military is integrating AI and cyber-physical systems into operations.

“And we are equipping our rakyat with AI knowledge through free educational tools such as AI Untuk Rakyat. We have also seen continued interest from foreign investors eager to set up or expand their businesses here,” he said.

This, he said, is evident in the growth of start-ups and data centres in Malaysia.

To help local and foreign companies thrive in the country’s digital ecosystem, the Ministry of Digital, through the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), has established regional digital economy offices in the country.

He also shared that last month, the Southern Regional Digital Office was launched in Johor, as the state has emerged as a key driver of Malaysia’s digital economy.

Johor alone contributed RM44.4 billion, or 51 per cent of Malaysia’s RM86.7 billion in digital investments between January and mid-April 2026.

“These initiatives are part of our journey to turn Malaysia into an AI nation by 2030. As we move through 2026, the Ministry of Digital is focused on strengthening Malaysia’s position not only as a technology adopter but also as a globally competitive AI and digital technology producer.

“Through the ‘Made by Malaysia’ initiative, we are prioritising the development of sovereign AI infrastructure and high-powered computing capabilities to support a secure, trusted and resilient digital future.

“Above all, we want to create more highly skilled Malaysian talent who will go on to pioneer new solutions and tools for the world,” he said.

Today’s event convenes ministers, policymakers, CIOs, cybersecurity leaders, healthcare professionals, digital strategists and technology innovators to explore practical AI implementation, digital public infrastructure, ethical governance and cybersecurity frameworks aligned with Malaysia’s MyDIGITAL agenda and national AI ambitions.

The conference features strategic keynote sessions, executive dialogues and international perspectives focusing on, among others, Malaysia's National Al Roadmap in Action, Powering Al Nation 2030 with Next-Generation Digital Infrastructure, Cybersecurity in Smart Governance, Regulating Emerging Technologies and Digital Malaysia 2030 and Future-Ready Public Services

-- BERNAMA