Malaysia Calls For Islamic World To Drive Global Technology Development
The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) said this was conveyed by its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, in a national statement at the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-15) Dialogue Platform held in Tehran, Iran, from May 18 to 19.
Zambry said that science and technology had long been the foundation of Islamic civilisation and it was now the shared responsibility of the OIC-15 member states to restore this leadership through a holistic, ethical, and Islamic value-based approach.
Therefore, the MOHE said that Malaysia had proposed seven main pillars for joint consideration within the OIC-15 framework of action.
The proposed pillars include developing a common curriculum covering AI, data ethics and digital humanities; establishing cross-country research and innovation hubs; launching a widespread AI literacy movement among member states; as well as setting up the OIC-15 Digital Solidarity Fund and the OIC Digital Readiness Index.
The other pillars proposed are the formation of the OIC Cybersecurity Consortium; the setting up of the OIC-15 Foresight Unit to shape the future of Islamic technology; and the introduction of a Crisis Innovation Fund to assist communities affected, including Gaza.
According to the MOHE, Zambry also shared Malaysia's progress in formulating the Malaysian Higher Education Plan (PPTM) 2025-2035, which focuses on AI-based education, lifelong learning and digital talent development.
'The Malaysia MADANI concept, which is based on balanced, comprehensive and humane development, is highlighted as a model for the country's digital transformation.
'Malaysia also offers cooperation in the form of scholarships, mobility programmes and AI Fellowships to support talent development with OIC-15 member states,' according to the statement.
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The civil action was up for trial — the action having been filed at the High Court in July 2021, prior to Anwar's appointment as the Prime Minister in November 2022 with the trial having been fixed on June 6, 2025 — but Anwar, by an application on May 23, 2025, sought to: a) refer constitutional questions to the Federal Court (see below) – touching on whether a sitting Prime Minister enjoys certain immunities or protections from civil litigation relating to pre-office conduct — under O 92 r 4 of the Rules of Court 2012 (ROC) and/or Article 128(2) of the Federal Constitution and/or Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 (CJA); and b) stay the trial on June 16 pending the Federal Court's determination of those constitutional questions. At the hearing of the application, it was submitted by Anwar's legal team that the continuation of the civil action engages constitutional issues concerning the interpretation and effect of Articles 5, 8, 39, 40, and 43 of the Federal Constitution. It was further suggested that a sitting Prime Minister should be insulated from the burdens of civil litigation, and that the High Court ought to refer these issues for the determination of the Federal Court pursuant to Article 128(2) of the Federal Constitution. Eight questions were listed in the application for referral to the Federal Court. 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