Announcements | Ministry of Digital

SALUTATIONS

1. The Honourable Mr. Fabian Bigar,

Secretary-General of the Ministry of Digital,

2. The Distinguished Deputy Secretaries-General of the Ministry of Digital,

3. Heads of Departments, Chief Executive Officers of Agencies, and Senior Officers of the Ministry,

Esteemed Members of the Ministry of Digital, Departments, and Agencies.

Greetings of Unity and Salam Malaysia MADANI.

1. Exactly two years ago, on 12 December 2023, the Ministry of Digital was established. From that moment onward, we began our collective journey in shaping the strategic direction of the nation’s digitalisation, with the aim of building a country that is truly prepared to face the digital future. That date marked the starting point of a national reform agenda and a transformative era, one that brings together our shared vision, courage, and determination to elevate Malaysia to greater heights within the global digital ecosystem.

2. We recognise that these first two years have been a critical phase for all of us in laying the foundations, building the necessary structures, and charting the nation’s direction through more focused and wellorganised digital governance. Throughout this period, we have gone through various stages of learning, adaptation, and continuous improvement. From restructuring mandates and strengthening organisational capacity, to developing new policies and coordinating digital initiatives across ministries and agencies, every effort has demanded a high level of discipline, clarity of thought, and a unified workforce.

3. I am fully aware and deeply appreciative that the task of establishing a new ministry is by no means an easy one. It requires the courage to create more agile structures, the ability to address complex challenges with creativity, and an unwavering commitment to always place the interests of the people first. Over the past two years, we have not only laid the foundations of the nation’s digital governance, but also strengthened public trust in the Government’s capacity to 4 transform public services in a more modern, efficient, and inclusive manner.

4. I am confident that the achievements we celebrate today are a true reflection of the dedication and resilience of the officers across the Ministry, departments, and agencies who consistently strive to deliver their very best. The spirit of professionalism, a culture grounded in integrity, and the willingness to move forward together as one team have been key catalysts in the successful implementation of the nation’s digital agenda. These efforts encompass the digitalisation of government services, the empowerment of the digital economy nationwide, the expansion of digital access and literacy among the community, as well as the development of talent for future generations.

5. As we look back on the journey of the past two years, we can take pride in having shaped a new trajectory that is stronger and more structured for the nation’s digital future. However, more importantly, we must remain focused on the fact that this journey is far from complete. Digital transformation is a continuous process, one that requires us to remain agile, responsive, and progressive.

YEAR 2024: A PHASE OF BUILDING FOUNDATIONS AND STRUCTURES

Beloved and Esteemed Members of the Ministry of Digital,

6. All the achievements realised in the preceding year, 2024, did not come about by chance. They were the result of our courage to build something new from the ground up and our willingness to align the machinery of government towards a shared vision. The year 2024 5 truly became a year of sowing seeds and formulating strategies, a year that tested our patience, precision, and ability to restructure the nation’s digital landscape. Our primary focus was on laying strong foundations, organising structures, and strengthening a robust institutional framework anchored on three key pillars: Digital Government, Digital Economy, and Digital Society.

7. It was in that year that we successfully strengthened the nation’s digital policy framework by clearly mapping the mandates of each department and agency under the Ministry of Digital in a more structured and non-overlapping manner. In addition, we established inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms, put in place a national AI governance structure, streamlined government digital workflows, and realigned programme priorities based on their real and tangible impact on the people.

8. The year 2024 also marked several significant milestones, including the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO) on 28 August 2024, which now serves as the central strategic coordination hub for the nation’s AI agenda. In addition, we launched the AI@JDN Chatbot platform to enhance the efficiency of public service delivery. Our commitment to cybersecurity was demonstrated through the passage of the Cyber Security Bill 2024 (enforced by NACSA), as well as the Personal Data Protection Act (Act 709) (Amendment) 2024, which represents an important starting point in strengthening one of the key pillars of national data trust. We are fully aware that these efforts are only the initial steps towards becoming an AI-driven nation, as envisioned for the year 2030.

YEAR 2025: A LEAP INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE AND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP

Ladies and Gentlemen,

9. The year 2025 has seen us move decisively from the planning phase into a more structured, results-oriented implementation phase. We have gazetted and enforced key legislation such as the Data Sharing Act 2025 [Act 864] and launched the National Cloud Computing Policy (NCCP). In addition, we initiated pilot projects for AI Cities in Putrajaya and seven other cities, demonstrating our strong commitment to strengthening the nation’s digital infrastructure.

10. Specifically, in 2025, the Ministry demonstrated Malaysia’s readiness to lead the regional digital agenda through the successful organisation of several high-profile international events. Among them was the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025, which positioned Malaysia as a regional hub for discussions on AI policy and AI safety, as well as the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025, which showcased innovative smart city solutions and our digital urbanisation model. We also successfully delivered the Malaysia Digital Acceleration (MDX) Summit 2025 as a key catalyst for investment and industry collaboration, followed by SmartGov Malaysia 2025, which served as a platform for sharing best practices in excellence in public sector digital governance.

11. In conjunction with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, we successfully demonstrated our capacity to consistently organise highimpact regional events. This achievement serves as a clear affirmation of the Ministry’s strengths in operations and logistics, and most importantly of our nation’s thought leadership within the ASEAN region, particularly through our active participation in key platforms such as the ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN). In addition, we took the lead in developing two significant ASEAN initiatives: the ASEAN Guide for Sustainable Data Centre Development (2025) and the ASEAN Framework on Cross-Border Cloud Computing (2025). Both initiatives are instrumental in advancing sustainability standards and strengthening data governance across Southeast Asia.

NATIONAL VISION: TOWARDS AN AI-DRIVEN NATION UNDER THE 13TH MALAYSIA PLAN (RMK-13)

Beloved Members of the Ministry of Digital,

12. Our focus now turns to the future as we step into the era of the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13). Under this framework, the nation aspires to become an AI-driven country by the year 2030. This is a clear and purposeful vision, and we are mobilising all our efforts to bring it to fruition.

13. The Ministry will continue to lead the nation’s digitalisation efforts guided by the Malaysia Digital Action Plan 2030: Towards an AI Nation (MD2030), alongside the development of the National AI Action Plan 2026–2030. This plan will serve as a key strategic document in realising our aspiration to position Malaysia as a regional 8 market producer of digital products and a provider of digital solutions, while charting strong and sustainable growth towards 2030 and in the decades to come.

14. As we move into the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13), we do so with renewed confidence that the nation is capable of making the leap towards becoming an AI-driven country by 2030. This transformation will not occur in isolation; rather, it depends on our ability to strengthen local talent, align strategic policies, empower government services through GovTech, and ensure that every digital initiative is designed around the principles of inclusivity and data trust.

15. With the same spirit, we will continue to steer this transformation, ensuring that every step taken during the RMK-13 period paves the way for even greater success, success that will define how Malaysia not only adapts to the new digital world, but also stands as a leading force in shaping it.

16. Before I conclude this address, I would like to extend my highest appreciation to all officers of the Ministry of Digital, the National Digital Department (JDN), the Personal Data Protection Department (JPDP), MDEC, Cybersecurity Malaysia (CSM), MyDigital, MyNIC, DNB, and all parties who have contributed their energy and ideas.

17. To all members of the Ministry of Digital and its agencies, including our friends from the media, I extend my sincere gratitude for your unwavering dedication. You have proven that Malaysia possesses the capability to advance as a competitive digital power.

18. Let us continue to strengthen a Digital-First Mindset and uphold the noble principle of “No One Left Behind”, to ensure that every Malaysian benefits from a digital ecosystem that is safe, inclusive, and sustainable. The digital and AI future of Malaysia is now a shared responsibility. We have successfully moved beyond the initial phase; now, let us build greater momentum and chart even more remarkable achievements ahead.

Thank you.

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