PETALING JAYA: The National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan 2026–2030, aimed at addressing Malaysia’s AI talent shortage, is expected to be launched in the third quarter of this year.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the ministry is currently fine-tuning the policy paper before tabling the final draft to the Cabinet.
“We have done several drafts and I think at this point, the final version has been put together.
“It has been circulated and will ultimately be brought to the Cabinet,” he said in a special interview with The Star here yesterday.
The Star previously reported that Malaysia has about four years to establish itself as a globally competitive AI nation, but gaps remain in both talent development and industry adoption.
Malaysia is targeting 30,000 AI professionals by 2030, but current estimates suggest the country has only about 3,000 in the workforce.
Asked how confident he was that the action plan could bridge that gap, Gobind acknowledged the scale of the challenge.
“At the end of the day, it’s not easy. This is a huge task. But we need to start by acknowledging that there is a lot to be done,” he said.
Gobind also said the establishment of the National AI Office marked a critical first step in coordinating efforts across sectors.
The office was set up to engage industry players and stakeholders nationwide to better understand sector-specific challenges and needs.
“Every sector has come back to us with its individual challenges. The challenges in different sectors are different,” he said.
As such, the ministry is adopting a consultative approach by gathering feedback from industries ranging from manufacturing and healthcare to finance and education.
The feedback, he said, would help shape government policy and potentially involve multiple ministries as well as state and local authorities.
“It’s now about how we engage the different sectors, how they communicate to us what needs to be done and how we bring those views back to the government,” Gobind explained, adding that the coordination effort would not be confined to Putrajaya alone.
He said the immediate priority is to establish a workable and flexible process rather than rushing towards headline numbers.
“I’m confident that we will build a process that will eventually get it done.
“What is important now is ensuring there is a process that is workable, not too rigid and flexible. It gives us space to take suggestions from everyone who will be affected,” he said.
He described the initiative as more than just a “whole-of-government” effort, calling it a “whole-of-nation” approach involving policymakers, educators, businesses and the public.
Gobind added that the success of the action plan would depend not only on producing AI specialists, but also on preparing Malaysians more broadly for an AI-driven future.
“Ultimately, I’m confident we’ll get there. It’s really about making sure we build a Malaysia where our citizens are AI-ready,” he said.
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