By Puti Iylia Maisarah and Siti Nur Athirah
KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- Development policies practised in Malaysia for almost 70 years require transformation in line with current technological demands to achieve the goal of becoming an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Nation by 2030.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Design and Architecture lecturer Dr Mohd Sallehuddin Mat Noor said that the innovative co-creation development model for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must be a priority for implementing AI Cities, thereby shifting from a conventional approach to a more dynamic model.
"This co-creation model requires government-private and public policy changes, which practice more holistic community values, with the use of AI needing to be based on real data and complying with community values and ethics.
"In addition, future land use patterns also need to be flexible to meet the needs of AI technology and the challenges of climate change, which are difficult to predict,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
Mohd Sallehuddin, who is also a member of the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia, has suggested that the sectors involved no longer have a 'business as usual’ mentality but rather shift to a more comprehensive vision, particularly in identifying 22 industry sections in the country that are expected to be directly affected by the flow of automation and AI technology.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Research Institute for Sustainable Environment (RISE) director Prof Dr Muhammad Zaly Shah Muhammad Hussein said that although the country’s AI infrastructure readiness appears strong, there are still significant gaps that could affect the national AI ecosystem if not addressed immediately.
"Among the main weaknesses are data readiness and talent. If not addressed, it could impact Malaysia's target of becoming an AI-driven nation by 2030,” he said.
He said Malaysia is currently on the right track to become an ASEAN data centre hub, with projections to accommodate up to two-thirds of the region's capacity by 2035, but the rapid development has put pressure on the country's utilities, especially electricity and water supply.
According to him, the main challenge now is the shortage of AI talent, with the World Bank estimating that there are only 3,000 AI professionals in Malaysia compared to the need for about 30,000 by 2030, in addition to a report by Amazon Web Services indicating that 81 per cent of employers in Malaysia are facing difficulty in finding workers with such skills.
He said that although various initiatives, such as AIForMYFuture by Microsoft and the AI Sandbox Programme, had been implemented, efforts still need to be accelerated through the AI Talent Roadmap up to 2030.
Describing Malaysia as being on the right track through its ability to adapt to current technology, Malaysian Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) president Siraj Jalil said this reflected the country’s readiness in facing the global digital transformation.
He said the country's ability to adapt to high technology, such as AI, supercomputers and quantum computing, as well as adapt to rapid technological changes, could support efforts to realise AI Cities.
"These efforts need to balance three key components: government policies, industry readiness and user acceptance in creating smart cities.
"In addition, the development of AI infrastructure through investments from global and domestic technology companies can further strengthen Malaysia's position in the regional technology landscape,” he said.
Siraj, who is also a member of the National Consumer Advisory Council, said the main challenges currently lie in the global energy crisis, which is affecting supply stability, as well as telecommunications infrastructure, given that smart cities rely heavily on sustainable energy and stable internet connectivity.
He said the rate of household internet usage, which is nearing 100 per cent in Malaysia, also serves as a key catalyst for developing the digital ecosystem in smart cities.
"As such, the objective of developing AI Cities not only involves certain parties or one ministry, but instead needs the cooperation of various parties in multiple sectors, including construction, communications and property developers,” he said.
On Friday (April 10), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Malaysia is now at a critical juncture to transition from Smart City development to AI City development as the foundation for its aspiration to become an AI Nation.
Anwar said the shift is not merely about adopting new technologies but requires a comprehensive transformation in how cities are planned, governed and managed to be more efficient, resilient and data-driven.
-- BERNAMA
