Malaysia unveils action plan to become regional AI leader

The Malaysia Digital 2030 (MD2030) strategy is built around seven strategic pillars, namely government, economy, infrastructure, talent, society, trust and security, and innovation, with each led by the relevant ministry under a whole-of-government approach.

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has unveiled the country's 2026–2030 national action plan aimed at transforming Malaysia from a technology consumer into a producer of home-grown innovation, with the ambition of becoming a leading artificial intelligence (AI) nation in the region by 2030.

Malaysia's Ministry of Digital said the Malaysia Digital 2030 (MD2030) strategy sets ambitious national targets, including raising the digital economy's contribution to 30% of gross domestic product (GDP) and creating 500,000 high-value digital jobs by 2030.

The Government also aims to save more than 1.1 billion USD in the public sector through digitalisation and deliver 95% of public services fully online from end to end.

The ministry has been designated as the lead agency to drive the country's strategic direction in realising the 'Towards an AI Nation 2030' agenda. MD2030 is built around seven strategic pillars, namely government, economy, infrastructure, talent, society, trust and security, and innovation, with each led by the relevant ministry under a whole-of-government approach.

The Government pillar will focus on enhancing public service delivery through the establishment of GovTech Malaysia.

The Economy pillar aims to position Malaysia as a regional digital innovation and trade hub by promoting "Made by Malaysia" products, accelerating technology adoption in High Growth High Value (HGHV) sectors, and unlocking the potential of data, digital assets and intellectual property (IP).

The Infrastructure pillar will prioritise nationwide high-quality internet connectivity while developing sustainable digital infrastructure, including data centres, cloud computing and smart cities.

The Talent pillar seeks to prepare the workforce for the digital economy through a comprehensive talent policy framework, agile workforce transition initiatives and efforts to strengthen Malaysia's position as a regional and global digital talent hub.

Under the Society pillar, the government will promote inclusive participation in the digital ecosystem through the institutionalisation of the Malaysian Digital Inclusion Index, empowerment of rural communities and the rollout of socially impactful digital solutions.

The Trust and Security pillar will seek to balance digital security with innovation through the operationalisation of the National Data Commission and the development of the National Digital Trust and Data Security Strategy 2026-2030.

Meanwhile, the Innovation pillar will strengthen the innovation pipeline from research to commercialisation by building a robust Research, Development, Commercialisation, Innovation and Economy (RDCIE) ecosystem to support Malaysia's transition into a creator of digital technologies./.

VNA

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