Malaysia implements national AI strategy to drive economic growth

Malaysia is advancing its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy to transition from providing digital infrastructure to developing homegrown AI solutions. Under the National AI Action Plan 2026-2030, also known as AI Nation 2030, the government aims to boost annual GDP by 0.8 to 1.2 percentage points, potentially adding RM13 billion to RM20 billion to the economy. The plan also targets the creation of 300,000 to 500,000 new AI-related jobs.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil emphasized focusing AI applications on sectors such as semiconductors, healthcare, agriculture, and logistics. Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) has committed to nurturing 30,000 local AI talents and developing 200 local partners over the next three years. Malaysia is projected to host approximately two-thirds of ASEAN’s data center capacity by 2035.

In the public sector, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that AI could be utilized to draft initial police investigation papers to help manage the roughly 400,000 reports filed monthly. While AI would produce first drafts, investigating officers will remain responsible for verifying all documents before they are submitted to prosecutors to ensure accuracy and accountability.