SALUTATION
1. Yang Berbahagia Datuk Ng Yih Pyng
President, Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM)
2. Mr Zheng Xuefang
Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of the People's Republic of China to Malaysia
3. Yang Berbahagia Dato' Seri N. Gobalakrishnan
President, National Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM)
Life Honorary Presidents and Executive Councils of ACCCIM,
Distinguished Guests, Industry Captains & Esteemed Members of ACCCIM,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Salam Perpaduan, Salam Malaysia MADANI and a very good Morning.
1. It is a pleasure to be here this morning. I must thank Datuk Ng and his team from the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia for organising this event.
2. The summit comes at a time where artificial intelligence (AI) dominates conversations – from boardrooms to the streets. Some may think that we are overly excited about AI. After all, it is the biggest thing that has happened to us since the dotcom era some three decades ago.
3. Such an enthusiasm is palpable, and AI’s potential is undeniable. But how do we harness this digital power responsibly and effectively?
ADOPTING ‘WHOLE-OF-NATION’ APPROACH, CEMENTING REGIONAL TIES
Ladies and Gentlemen,
4. Here in Malaysia, our answer is a "whole-of-nation" approach. Our vision, as encapsulated in the AI Nation Framework and led by the National AI Office (NAIO), is to treat AI not as a luxury for the few, but as a public good for all. The framework is built on five key pillars: forward-looking policies, a digitally fluent workforce, secure infrastructure, digital trust, and strategic investments. This is a clear signal to the world that Malaysia is committed to making AI advanced, inclusive, and trustworthy.
5. This MADANI Government’s commitment in AI will be further reflected in the tabling of the upcoming Budget 2026. The allocations and initiatives will be focused on turning Malaysia into an AI nation and advancing GovTech initiatives.
6. This national ambition is strengthened by our position within Southeast Asia. The region is already a collective AI powerhouse, with a rapidly expanding digital economy projected to add over US$1 trillion to our combined GDP by 2030.
7. While each member state has its own national strategy, we are moving forward together. The ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, for example, provides a crucial, shared foundation of principles like fairness, transparency, and accountability.
8. Such a collaborative spirit will allow all of us in ASEAN to innovate and grow, while ensuring a human-centric approach to AI development.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS KEY TO GROWTH
Ladies and Gentlemen,
9. The government can only do so much. We need to join forces with experts like all of you here today to better understand this evolving technology. This will help us put in place better regulations and policies for the digital economy, and its players, to thrive.
10. As such, public-private partnerships are the engine of our agility. By partnering with the private sector, we can experiment, scale, and adapt at the speed of innovation. We can bank on real-life 4 situations, instead of just theories.
11. This creates a "living lab" environment - where new AI solutions can be created, tested, and deployed, benefiting both our economy and most importantly, our fellow Malaysians.
12. However, none of this is possible without the right people and the right principles. We must close the AI divide. We must uphold ethics and integrity at all times.
13. This means investing heavily in digital talent — from expanding our existing AI untuk Rakyat online programme to upskilling professionals in every sector.
14. We are aware that jobs are expected to be impacted by AI, digitalisation, and the green economy over the next five years.
15. This, however, is not exclusive to our nation alone. Globally, the World Economic Forum predicts 50% of the workforce will need to reskill or upskill by 2025.
16. Undeniably, some traditional jobs will be automated. We saw this happen in the three earlier industrial revolutions. What did mankind do? We pivoted and found new opportunities. We not only survived but we became stronger.
17. In fact, AI is already creating new jobs, such as AI research scientist, machine learning engineer and data scientist.
18. Those within the civil service are enhancing their skills, as they will play a key role in various GovTech initiatives. If we, in the government, are already doing it, all of you here today should also be upskilling your teams.
19. At the same time, we must embed responsible AI at every level. This includes developing ethical frameworks and governance policies that ensure AI systems are secure, unbiased, and serve the public good. The creation of a dedicated Data Commission, and the amendments to existing laws, are a testament to our commitment to building public trust. If there is no buy-in from the rakyat, then our efforts will be futile.
TURNING MALAYSIA INTO AN AI HOTBED
Ladies and Gentlemen,
20. Our on-going and upcoming efforts are not just to strengthen our AI capabilities domestically. They will also position Malaysia as a leader in the global AI landscape.
21. The massive investments by local and foreign players in Malaysia say it all. Why are they keen to mark their footprints in Malaysia? It is because of our strategic location. It is also due to our proactive government policies. Malaysia is simply a great place to do business.
22. By building a robust ecosystem, fostering talent, and leading with a human-centric vision, we are not just keeping pace with the global AI race - we are leading it in our own unique way, grounded in our values and tailored to our shared regional future.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
23. Last month, we hosted the ASEAN AI Summit. It drew over 10,000 participants and visitors from all over the globe. That summit was a resounding success, and it was thanks to the participation of the industry players, including ACCCIM.
24. Next week, we will host the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur, SmartGov Malaysia 2025 and Malaysia Digital Xceleration (MDX) Summit . Later this month is the 3rd edition of the Cyber Digital Services, Defence and Security Asia Exhibition and Conference (CyberDSA 2025). These aren’t just events to tick the boxes. These are gatherings involving important stakeholders who are keen, and have the ability, to catapult Malaysia’s journey into a digital nation.
25. In the same spirit, I look forward to the various discussions and ideas from the workshops and conferences throughout this Summit. It is important for these conversations to continue beyond this Summit. The ultimate goal is to find solutions that would benefit all of you, our rakyat and our beloved nation.
Thank you once again for having me here today. And have a great summit ahead.
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