PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the Malaysia Digital 2030 (MD2030), a national action plan for 2026-2030, marking a major shift in the country’s digital strategy from being a technology consumer to a producer of home-grown innovation.
The launch here yesterday was attended by Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
In a statement, the Digital Ministry said the action plan sets ambitious national targets by 2030, including raising the digital economy’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) to 30%, creating 500,000 high-value digital jobs, generating RM4.5bil in public sector savings through digitalisation, and delivering 95% of government services 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, reported Bernama.
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.
Each pillar will be overseen by a cluster head.
The government pillar will be led by Shamsul Azri; Economy by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani; Infrastructure by Fahmi; Talent by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan; Society by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri; Trust and Security by Gobind; and Innovation by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang.
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 sectors, and unlocking the potential of data, digital assets and intellectual property.
The infrastructure pillar will prioritise nationwide high-quality Internet connectivity while developing sustainable digital infrastructure.
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.
The innovation pillar will strengthen the innovation pipeline from research to commercialisation by building a robust Research, Development, Commercialisation, Innovation and Economy ecosystem to support Malaysia’s transition into a creator of digital technologies.
Later in Seremban, the Prime Minister said 25,000 folk were set to benefit from the Bakat Madani initiative, a national effort involving government-linked investment companies (GLICs), government-linked companies (GLCs), and PETRONAS to boost national talent development.
“Young people should not forget to thank the corporate bodies that have helped ensure the initiative’s proper implementation.
“If they do not manage it properly, the programme cannot be carried out as financing is provided by them, not by me,” he said when officiating the programme.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the initiative focused on strengthening employability and career placement within the GLIC, GLC and PETRONAS ecosystem; expanding job placement opportunities across key strategic sectors; and empowering Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
