The Honourable Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, underscored Malaysia’s commitment to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) during his opening address at the Artificial Intelligence Conference 2024, held at Brickfields Asia College.
In his speech, Tengku Zafrul highlighted the importance of events like the AI Conference in exploring the vast potential and impact AI will have on Malaysia’s society and economy. He stated, “We stand at the cusp of a new era. AI presents both unprecedented opportunities and unexpected challenges. The Malaysian Government, through MITI and the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), must play an active role in positioning Malaysia at the forefront of the global AI revolution.”
The Minister emphasised the significance of the recently announced National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap, which aims to establish Malaysia as a global leader in AI by 2030. This strategic framework, built on three pillars—advancing AI research and innovation, nurturing a vibrant AI ecosystem, and promoting responsible AI usage—will guide the nation’s development in AI.
Tengku Zafrul elaborated on the government’s investments in cutting-edge research facilities and fostering innovation through collaborations between academia, industry, and government. He also called for the development of a robust AI ecosystem, stressing the need for strategic partnerships, technical resources, and funding to support entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“The creation of a strong talent pipeline is essential to ensuring our workforce can excel in an AI-driven economy,” said Tengku Zafrul. He urged conference participants to propose ways in which the government, academia, and industry could collaborate better to foster a thriving AI ecosystem that benefits all, particularly marginalised communities.
On the third pillar, promoting ethical and responsible AI practices, the Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to implementing stringent laws and ethical guidelines to ensure AI technologies are developed and used responsibly. He stressed the importance of data privacy, mitigating biases, and preventing AI abuse, calling for a whole-of-nation responsibility to ensure AI practices are transparent, accountable, and beneficial to all.
Tengku Zafrul also linked the success of Malaysia’s AI ambitions to the sustainability of the nation’s electronics and electrical (E&E) industry. He pointed out that Malaysia’s E&E sector, which produces 13% of global back-end semiconductors and drives 40% of the nation’s export output, plays a crucial role in powering AI-driven technologies.
To maintain Malaysia’s competitive edge in the semiconductor industry, the government has launched the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), with an initial phase allocation of RM25 billion to support research and development, workforce training, and strategic partnerships. The Minister noted that these efforts aim to position Malaysia as a regional and global leader in the semiconductor industry.
In conclusion, Tengku Zafrul emphasised the pivotal role of the Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC) and the Productivity Nexus in facilitating AI adoption among businesses, particularly SMEs. He encouraged industry players and stakeholders to actively participate in ensuring Malaysia remains not just a consumer of AI technology, but a meaningful contributor to the global AI supply chain.
“Let us ensure that AI becomes a force for good for Malaysia and the world,” Tengku Zafrul stated before officially launching the Artificial Intelligence Conference 2024.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2024/08/27/malaysias-bold-ai-plans-unveiled-by-tengku-zafrul/