KUALA LUMPUR: The forthcoming National Artificial Intelligence Action Plan 2026-2030, currently being formulated by the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO), aims to position Malaysia as a leading regional AI hub while setting clear targets to improve its standing in global AI rankings.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said Malaysia currently ranks 26th out of 36 countries in the Stanford HAI AI Index (2023) and 24th out of 193 countries in the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index 2024.
"On local talent development, the government has already rolled out several large-scale initiatives to boost the nation's workforce readiness for AI adoption.
"One such initiative is the 'AI for My Future' programme in collaboration with Microsoft, which aims to reach nearly 800,000 Malaysians through interactive modules and guided training," he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 21).
He was responding to a question from Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu (PH-Batu Gajah) on the country’s preparedness for the rise of AI, including strategies for technology transfer, talent development, and integration in governance and key economic sectors.
Gobind highlighted that the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has introduced programmes such as MyDigital Maker and Cikgu Juara Digital, which focus on digital skills like robotics and data analytics at the school level to empower students and educators.
"We also have the AI@Work initiative with Google, targeting training for 445,000 civil servants using AI tools such as Gemini and Notebook LLM to enhance public service efficiency,” he said.
He added that the government is also examining the legal framework, with plans to draft dedicated AI legislation to balance governance needs with Malaysia’s regional AI hub ambition. - Bernama
