KUALA LUMPUR: Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has lashed out at an opposition MP who claimed that Malaysia's digital sovereignty had been undermined by the Malaysia-United States Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART).
Gobind urged the opposition MP to read all the related articles under the agreement carefully before asking a question.
"Pasir Mas, please read the relevant article in the agreement carefully. An agreement is not the same as a 'negotiation'.
"That's actually a simple term. I don't understand why your side finds it so difficult to grasp such a simple concept," he told Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN–Pasir Mas) during Question Time on Thursday (Nov 6).
Fadhli had asked the Digital Ministry whether the agreement with the US would compromise Malaysia's digital sovereignty and reduce the country to "just an algorithms lab for Silicon Valley companies".
"My question is, does the government really want our country, as an AI nation by 2030, to face these constraints under the agreement?
"Does this give away the key to our digital sovereignty and reduce Malaysia to being merely an algorithms lab for Silicon Valley companies?" Ahmad Fadhli asked in a supplementary question.
Gobind replied, "Read the document carefully. We understand that yes, we (the government) are running Malaysia. We understand sovereignty.
"The Cabinet has discussed the agreement multiple times and examined all aspects.
"Every year, at the Asean level, we hold discussions in the best interest of the region.
"I agree with Tambun (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), enough is enough. Politics has its limits. We want to do the best for the country. Read the document carefully.
"Ask more intelligent questions, and I can answer them. But to repeat the same thing over and over again... until when?
"I find those on the other side unwilling to accept that the terms of the agreement clearly state it does not restrict our sovereignty or hand it over to anyone," said Gobind.
The Asean AI Safety Network (Asean AI Safe) is a regional mechanism led by Malaysia.
Established through the region's digital ministries, its headquarters would be based in Kuala Lumpur.
The network would coordinate efforts to strengthen regional capacity, foster collaboration, promote AI safety research and support the safe adoption of AI across South-East Asia.
