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Malaysia is accelerating its push to become an Artificial Intelligence (AI) nation by 2030, under the National AI Action Plan which emphasises technology development, talent, governance, infrastructure and sustainable investment.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said 2026 would mark a pivotal year in the ministry’s efforts to position Malaysia as a leading AI nation. He highlighted that the ambition extends beyond technology, aiming to build a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates policy, talent, infrastructure, digital trust and investment to establish Malaysia as a competitive and high-impact regional AI hub.

“With careful planning and a holistic approach, Malaysia is expected to emerge as an inclusive, ethical, safe and competitive AI nation, making AI a key driver of economic growth and transformation of citizens’ lives by 2030,” Gobind said during the closing of the 2026 Supply Bill debate (Belanjawan 2026) at the Dewan Rakyat.

To support this aspiration, the government has allocated RM1.36 billion to the Ministry of Digital under Budget 2026, including RM248.5 million for operating expenditure and RM1.11 billion for development spending. Key initiatives include the RM53 million Malaysia Digital Accelerator Grant to accelerate adoption of technologies such as blockchain, AI and quantum computing and RM18.1 million to strengthen the National AI Office (NAIO). An additional RM20 million has been set aside for GovTech Malaysia to enhance nationwide government service delivery.

Gobind also highlighted the growth of Malaysia’s data centre sector, which attracted around RM115 billion in investment between 2021 and 2023. The industry is expected to create approximately 30,900 jobs by 2030, aligned with rising regional demand for digital services.

“Data centres are long-term investments that generate broad economic spillovers across multiple sectors. These include local firms in architecture, electrical contracting, HVAC system suppliers, security and facility management providers, as well as the growth of local digital service companies such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS),” he said.

The ministry is also drafting a Digital Trust and Data Security Strategy to provide a comprehensive regulatory framework, strengthening data governance across both public and private sectors.

“This strategy unites the principles of security, accountability and digital trust, in line with the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan towards establishing a safe and trustworthy AI nation,” Gobind added.

Source: https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2025/11/04/malaysia-targets-ai-nation-status-by-2030-2026-a-key-turning-point/