A progressive vision of technology for Malaysia

IN a world facing multiple crises, from climate shocks to rising inequality and the rapid – and scary – development of artificial intelligence (AI), optimism is often in short supply. In Malaysia, as elsewhere, technology is often debated in binary terms. Some see digital transformation as entirely beneficial, while others fear it as a threat to jobs, privacy, and human rights. Yet we can benefit greatly from creating our own vision of hopeful and inclusive technology.

Too often, Malaysia’s technology policy is reactive. It is shaped by private sector priorities rather than public interest. Digital platforms expand rapidly, AI already influences important decision- making, and surveillance technologies grow, but little attention is given to who benefits and who is at risk. The result is a digital landscape where inequality can deepen, privacy can be threatened, and young people feel excluded from shaping the technologies that will shape their lives.