KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has sufficient capability to access, manage and strategically leverage data with a high degree of resilience in its aspiration to become an artificial intelligence (AI) nation, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said data sovereignty is crucial in realising Malaysia’s aspiration of becoming an AI nation and must be supported by a high level of resilience to generate economic value, boost productivity and strengthen the country’s competitiveness.
“This means Malaysia has sufficient capability to put in place the right and accurate safeguards, including making its own decisions on the use of AI and the distribution of its benefits to the people,” he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to a question from Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (PH-Gombak) on the government’s efforts to include state initiatives such as the Selangor Dark Fibre Network to ensure data sovereignty for security and national interests.
Gobind said the government has strengthened the country’s digital security and governance ecosystem through various policies and legislation, including the 13th Malaysia Plan, Digital Malaysia Blueprint 2030, National Cloud Computing Policy, Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy 2025-2030, Data Sharing Act 2025 (Act 864) and Cyber Security Act 2024 (Act 854).
According to him, the effort focuses on five main elements, namely authentic and trusted data governance and sharing; control over the country’s strategic data; trusted digital infrastructure and computing; trust and digital resilience based on the principle of security by design; and the development of AI capabilities through data, talent and domestic innovation.
Responding to Amirudin’s supplementary question on Malaysia’s preparedness to face geopolitical AI competition and the proposal to create a national council involving state governments in AI development, Gobind said the government takes into account geopolitical factors, domestic needs and cooperation between the federal and state governments in formulating a secure national AI strategy.
He said the government has established a Data Centre Task Force (DCTF) to coordinate the development of data centres, cloud computing and digital infrastructure, covering sustainability, security and compliance with relevant standards.
“In this regard, I agree that we need to have coordination, and the National Council for the Digital Economy and Fourth Industrial Revolution (MED4IR) and the State MED4IR are currently looking into this aspect,” he said.
In response to a supplementary question from Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu) on whether there is collaboration between the Digital Ministry and the Finance Ministry to provide incentives for local technology companies developing sovereign data centres, Gobind said the matter was also discussed through DCTF involving various ministries and relevant agencies.
He said the task force had examined energy and water requirements, the project approval process, the use of the latest technology, as well as incentives to attract data centre investments to Malaysia.
“In the discussion, we also looked at aspects that can ensure that data centres to be built in Malaysia are aligned with the latest technology, as well as the incentives to attract investments.
“We also look at the interests of the local industry, and this is very important. We want to ensure that when we build the ecosystem needed for the country to succeed in AI in the future, it takes into account the needs of the local industry,” he said.
--BERNAMA
