1. Yang Berhormat Michelle Ng
ADUN Subang Jaya
2. Professor Duncan McDuie-Ra
Head (School of Arts & Social Science),
Monash University Malaysia
3. Mr Premesh Chandran
Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Monash University Malaysia
4. Associate Professor Emma Baulch Director, Southeast Asia Research Centre for Digital Tech and Society (SEADS)
5. Ms Ding Jo-Ann
Principal for Asia, Luminate
6. Professor Haiqing Yu
Professor (Media & Communications), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)
Member of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Salam Perpaduan, Salam Malaysia MADANI and a very good Morning.
1. Let me begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to Monash University Malaysia for hosting this important forum. Platforms such as this are critical for the shaping of ideas and policies that will define our digital future.
2. I would also like to thank Malaysiakini, Yayasan Malaysiakini, and Luminate for bringing together stakeholders across government, industry, academia, and civil society.
3. These partnerships matter because no single institution can navigate the complexity of technology, governance, and sovereignty alone.
4. It is a privilege to speak on technology in an era defined by rising global tensions, where sovereignty versus dependency is no longer simply a policy discussion.
BUILDING SOVEREIGNTY, LAYER BY LAYER
5. For decades, Malaysia operated within a stable global system, grounded in rules, institutions, and openness. That model delivered growth, but the landscape has shifted. Trade is now about leverage, and technology now operates as a strategic asset.
6. The question now is about how do we engage with global industry players without losing control over the systems that underpin our economy and society?
7. Sovereignty today is no longer defined by borders alone. It is defined by systems — by who controls data, infrastructure, platforms, and increasingly, intelligence itself. What once enabled growth through integration can now create dependency when ownership is absent.
8. And this is the central point: sovereignty is not a single act. It is built layer by layer. A stack of decisions, where each layer determines whether we strengthen our capabilities — or deepen our dependence.
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR OWNERSHIP
Ladies and Gentlemen,
9. Malaysia does not begin from a position of weakness. We have built strong foundations over the decades. In connectivity, in digital adoption, and in segments of the semiconductor supply chain, we have demonstrated both capability and resilience.
10. Through initiatives such as Jalinan Digital Negara (JENDELA) and the rollout of 5G through Digital Nasional Berhad, we have laid down the infrastructure that allows our digital economy to function at scale.
11. Malaysia is seeing strong growth in data centre investments, reflecting confidence in our ecosystem and positioning us within the global digital economy. But hosting infrastructure is not the same as owning it. If the capital, platforms, and intelligence are externally controlled, then the strategic advantage lies elsewhere.
12. This is where our approach must shift — from being a destination for investment to a builder of capability. What is developed here must create value here, across our economy, industries, and talent base.
13. At the platform level, the challenge is just as clear. Much of our digital ecosystem is shaped by foreign platforms that influence how information flows, how businesses operate, and how value is captured.
14. While governance frameworks are being strengthened through agencies under the Ministry of Digital Malaysia, this alone is not sufficient. Without building our own alternatives, dependency remains.
THE LINE BETWEEN ACCESS AND OWNERSHIP
15. We have a strong local talent pool that is already making their marks globally. The real question is whether we can create the conditions for them to build here, for Malaysia.
16. With the rise of AI, this becomes urgent. AI is no longer peripheral, because it is shaping decisions, productivity, and how institutions function.
17. Malaysia has taken steps through the National AI Roadmap, the National AI Office, and the National Guidelines on AI Governance and Ethics (AIGE) framework to support responsible, scalable growth. The economic potential is clear, with AI poised to contribute meaningfully to future GDP.
18. But this is not guaranteed. If we rely entirely on foreign systems, we must ask ourselves — are we building intelligence, or simply accessing it?
FROM POLICY TO PRACTICE
19. AI is lowering the cost and speed of building digital solutions, creating real opportunities for Malaysian companies. This is where sovereignty becomes real in the systems people use every day.
20. The Ministry of Digital Malaysia is strengthening the foundations, but the real challenge is effective adoption. The government must lead, as both the regulator and enabler to drive local innovation.
21. At the same time, we must scale regionally through ASEAN. Ultimately, sovereignty depends on our ability to build, adopt, and govern these systems ourselves. 6
Ladies and Gentlemen,
22. This is fundamental because the global landscape has changed. Access and openness can no longer be assumed. Sovereignty must now be deliberately built and protected.
23. If we do not act, dependency will deepen over time, but with clarity and discipline, Malaysia can do more than adapting — and we can lead, by engaging the world on our own terms.
24. This is not just about technology. It is about ensuring that the systems shaping our future remain within our control.
25. The direction before us is clear. Sovereignty will not happen by default, for it must be built deliberately, and it must be built together.
26. The government cannot carry this alone. Industries must step forward, not just to participate, but to build, to invest, and to take ownership of the systems that will define our future.
27. We need every player — startups, enterprises, researchers, investors to work alongside us. Build here. Anchor capability here. Scale beyond our borders. Set standards that reflect our realities. And ensure that what is created within our ecosystem generates real value for our people and our economy.
28. Because ultimately, this moment will not be defined by who moved first, but by who chose to act with intent. If we are clear in our purpose, and disciplined in our execution, Malaysia will not simply adjust to this new landscape — we will shape it, on our own terms. Thank You.
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