Kuala lumpur: The government remains focused on ensuring Malaysia’s digital initiatives continue to deliver tangible benefits to citizens and the region, said Deputy Digital Minister Wilson Ugak Kumbong. He emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration between the government, industry, and regional partners to accelerate innovation while safeguarding trust, inclusion, and resilience.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister Wilson highlighted a significant shift towards more intelligent, secure, and human-centered systems built on trust, collaboration, and responsible innovation. As Malaysia advances its digital initiatives, the focus remains on ensuring these developments bring real benefits to the citizens and the region. He made these remarks during the one-day NextBigTech Asia conference, organized by the Knowledge Group of Companies, under the theme ‘Intelligent Nation, Healthier Future: Pioneering Trustworthy AI for Governance and Human Well-being’.
Wilson noted that artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how governments plan, deliver, and improve public services. This trend is evident in Malaysia, as the country progresses steadily towards a data-driven and AI-enabled future. Local councils are utilizing AI for traffic management, the military is integrating AI into operations, and citizens are being equipped with AI knowledge through free educational tools like AI Untuk Rakyat. He also mentioned the growing interest from foreign investors to set up or expand their businesses in Malaysia, reflected in the growth of start-ups and data centers.
To support local and foreign companies in thriving within the country’s digital ecosystem, the Ministry of Digital, through the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), has established regional digital economy offices. Last month, the Southern Regional Digital Office was launched in Johor, which has become a significant driver of Malaysia’s digital economy. Johor alone contributed RM44.4 billion, or 51% of Malaysia’s RM86.7 billion in digital investments between January and mid-April 2026.
These initiatives are part of Malaysia’s journey to become an AI nation by 2030. As the country moves through 2026, the Ministry of Digital is focused on strengthening Malaysia’s position as not only a technology adopter but also a globally competitive AI and digital technology producer. Through the ‘Made by Malaysia’ initiative, there is a prioritization on developing sovereign AI infrastructure and high-powered computing capabilities to support a secure, trusted, and resilient digital future. The aim is to create more highly skilled Malaysian talent to pioneer new solutions and tools for the world.
Today’s conference brings together ministers, policymakers, CIOs, cybersecurity leaders, healthcare professionals, digital strategists, and technology innovators to explore practical AI implementation, digital public infrastructure, ethical governance, and cybersecurity frameworks aligned with Malaysia’s MyDIGITAL agenda and national AI ambitions. The event features strategic keynote sessions, executive dialogues, and international perspectives focusing on Malaysia’s National Al Roadmap in Action, Powering Al Nation 2030 with Next-Generation Digital Infrastructure, Cybersecurity in Smart Governance, and Regulating Emerging Technologies and Digital Malaysia 2030, along with Future-Ready Public Services.