Kuala lumpur: Malaysia's aspiration to become a leading developing nation, including in digital transformation, must go hand in hand with the strengthening of values, identity, morality, religious conviction, and culture, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He emphasized that technological advancement in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) should be balanced to prevent widening the gap between the rich and poor or those knowledgeable in AI and those without.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Prime Minister highlighted that AI is complex, costly, and carries risks. He cautioned against blindly adopting technologies from foreign countries like the United States, Europe, or China without safeguarding Malaysia's faith, morals, and cultural values. Anwar stressed the importance of training children to understand digital and AI technologies, enabling them to develop initiatives aligned with Malaysia's unique cultural perspectives.

The remarks were made during the launch of the Negeri Sembilan edition of the Program MADANI Rakyat (PMR) 2025, which was attended by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. Anwar also noted that digital transformation is expected to enhance productivity and service delivery, cautioning against investing heavily in AI without seeing corresponding improvements in productivity and public services.

The Prime Minister praised the proactive steps taken by several universities, such as Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Multimedia University, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, for establishing AI faculties and introducing related courses. The event also featured AI presenters, Aini and Ecah, in the opening montage, offering an interactive experience in line with current technological developments.