ISKANDAR PUTERI: Malaysia is set to strengthen its position as a global leader in ethical artificial intelligence (AI) following a landmark collaboration between the Islamic Development Malaysia Department (Jakim) and Zetrix AI Berhad, the developer of NurAI, the world's first Shariah-aligned large language model (LLM).
A letter of intent to establish the world's first Shariah-compliant AI framework was exchanged during Ijtimak Perdana Agensi Agama Seluruh Malaysia 2025 held at a hotel here on Saturday (Sept 13).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Setia Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar witnessed the exchange of letters.
The agreement was formalised between Jakim director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee and Zetrix AI director Datuk Mohd Jimmy Wong Abdullah.
Anwar said Malaysia's push towards digitalisation must remain grounded in Islamic principles and values, to ensure technological progress does not compromise the country's identity and ethics.
Under the collaboration, Jakim will guide the certification, governance and ethical standards of NurAI, ensuring the platform upholds Islamic teachings while addressing global concerns over trustworthy and transparent AI systems.
Three areas of cooperation have been outlined, which are Shariah certification, governance by developing frameworks and ethical guidelines rooted in Islamic principles.
Global advocacy and promotion that will position Malaysia as the centre of excellence for Islamic AI in the fast-growing Islamic digital economy, projected to reach US$5.74 trillion by 2030.
The third area is Jakim's official channel on NurAI that would provide verified fatwa, halal certification and Shariah guidance, while tackling misinformation online.
Mohd Jimmy said the partnership marks a turning point for Malaysia's halal ecosystem by extending its reach into the digital economy, particularly in Islamic finance, education and law.
"This collaboration ensures NurAI is not only technologically advanced but also firmly rooted in the ethical and cultural values of our nation," he said.
Developed locally, NurAI supports Bahasa Malaysia, Indonesian, English and Arabic.
It complies with national data sovereignty and cybersecurity policies, reducing reliance on foreign AI tools while ensuring knowledge remains secure and trusted.
Industry observers said the move underscores Malaysia's ambition to set international benchmarks in Shariah-compliant technology while catering to more than two billion Muslims worldwide.
