No plans yet for AI law
IPOH: Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang said there are no plans yet to draft laws addressing the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, but the National Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics (AIGE) are being utilised as a reference to regulate its use.
He said the ministry had held consultations with industry players regarding the implementation of AIGE, and all parties involved have agreed to adhere to the guidelines.
'There is no clear time frame yet (for an AI law), but that is our eventual goal... so that this guideline (AIGE) can be enforced as law.
'In the meantime, existing laws such as the Communications and Multimedia Act and the Penal Code remain applicable,' he told reporters after officiating the Perak Ignite Entrepreneur Summit 2025 at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Yuk Choy here today.
Previously, the media reported that National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) deputy director-general Ahmad Sazilee Abdul Khairi said that scammers are exploiting the rapid advancement of AI technology to make significant profits.
He emphasised the importance of the public staying informed and being vigilant against fraud syndicates using AI-generated content to deceive people.
Launched in September last year, AIGE serves as a foundation should the government decide to introduce legislation on AI-related matters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Shafee files police report on behalf of Najib over 'royal addendum'
KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has filed a police report, on behalf of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, against former attorney general Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh concerning the issue of the Royal Addendum, Sinar Harian reports. Muhammad Shafee, who is Najib's lead counsel, told the Malay language daily that he was instructed by Najib to file the report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters on Monday (June 16). "Previously, Najib had sought permission to file a police report either from within prison or with the assistance of prison authorities to make a report at the Kajang district police headquarters. "However, the request did not receive a positive response. Therefore, he instructed me to file the report," he said on Monday. Shafee said that the report was filed against Ahmad Terrirudin under Sections 204 and 209 of the Penal Code. "The offences alleged in the report are related to the Royal Addendum. I will not comment further as this report is an investigation document," he told Sinar Harian. Earlier, on May 29, Shafee revealed that Najib had not received any response despite seven letters being sent to confirm the existence of the Royal Addendum. At a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex, Shafee explained that the letters were sent to the then Attorney General, Ahmad Terrirudin, the Home Affairs Ministry, and the director-general of Prisons. However, he said that there was no response or confirmation that the letters had been received by any of the relevant parties.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Conflict escalation near Strait of Hormuz triggers one of most intense oil price rallies since 2022: Petronas
KUALA LUMPUR: The escalating conflict near the Strait of Hormuz has triggered one of the most intense oil price rallies since 2022, said Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) CEO Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik. 'In the past few days, the escalation of conflict around the Strait of Hormuz where 18 to 19 million barrels of oil – or 20% of the total global supply – flow through every day, have sent prices surging in anticipation of a supply shock,' he said in his welcoming speech at Energy Asia 2025 today. Tengku Muhammad Taufik said this is unfolding at a time when the world is still reeling from the US reciprocal tariffs. 'Today, we convene at a time when unrelenting uncertainty casts a long shadow on the unique pathways that each of us sought to travel towards our common destination.' Following developments in early April, when US President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs against trading partners, global fragmentation has been exacerbated by a new kind of confrontation, he said, adding that geopolitical conflicts around the world have intensified and metastasised to neighbouring regions. 'All of us were prompted to reconfigure our behaviours in markets and accept a new norm rife with volatility.' Tengku Muhammad Taufik said Asia's vast solar, wind and natural gas resources present an opportunity as the world reels from supply shocks and energy volatility. 'Parts of Asia enjoy abundant solar irradiance. Here, we see long coastlines and annual monsoon winds, which present vast and untapped renewables potential. Asia is blessed with abundant viable geological formations for carbon capture and storage – combined with an opportunity to deploy cleaner natural gas, this all points to a growth destination.' He remarked that Asia will play a central role for the world's energy transition to be possible because in 2050 the population in Asia-Pacific is expected to rise to 5.2 billion. 'To power our economies, to fuel AI adoption across all industries, to keep the lights on for our population and to safeguard our communities, this region will represent 50% of global energy demand until 2050.' Therefore, Tengku Muhammad Taufik said, the stage must be set for Asia to build upon its achievements and accelerate the progress from where it stands today, as the centre of energy demand growth where opportunities are abundant. 'To address Asia's growth ambitions even as it aims to achieve net zero, US$88.7 trillion (RM376 trillion) in energy investment will be needed until 2050.' Investment and spending across both conventional and renewable energy systems continues to be required, he said. 'Today we are contending with increasingly erratic market forces, surging operating costs, rising temperatures and recurring natural disasters – all demanding us to act with immediacy and adapt with agility.' Energy Asia – hosted by Petronas and knowledge partner CERAWeek by S&P Global – gathers 38 industries from more than 60 countries under the theme 'Delivering Asia's Energy Transition' at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Energy Asia is set against the backdrop of rising urgency and solidarity, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and energy professionals to align strategies and pragmatic solutions that meet the unique challenges and opportunities of developing and emerging economies. 'At Energy Asia, we now enjoy and benefit from the participation of almost 3,000 delegates from not just the oil, gas and energy industry, but also from power and utilities, technology and logistics, clean tech and renewables as well as financial and professional service providers,' said Tengku Muhammad Taufik.
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
AI law needed to counter digital misuse
KUALA LUMPUR: A law on artificial intelligence (AI) is necessary to counter digital misuse, say cybersecurity experts. They said such laws, however, should ensure that humans remain the primary decision-makers, with the ability to step in, override decisions, or take control if an AI system makes a mistake. Universiti Malaya Department of Computer System and Technology professor, Prof Dr Ainuddin Wahid Abdul Wahab, said strong AI laws are also needed given the speed at which AI is developing and its growing integration into daily life. He said that without proper legislation, there is a significant risk of digital mishaps, abuse, and harm, including the proliferation of fake content such as images, videos, and documents, as well as cybersecurity threats. "AI helps a lot in daily tasks, but it can also be used by malicious actors to launch highly advanced cyberattacks, making traditional cybersecurity measures insufficient. "A compromised AI system itself could pose a major national security risk. "Another issue is how AI is trained. "There is a risk of biased data being used. "For example, if the training sample is not sufficiently balanced, an AI system used in hiring might unintentionally discriminate against certain demographic groups. "Similarly, an AI used in the judicial system might lead to harsher sentences for certain communities," he said when contacted. Earlier today, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said Malaysia needs an artificial intelligence law in light of emerging threats. She said she has written to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo on the need to look into AI legislation. Ainuddin said that when drafting the Bill, he proposed the inclusion of a dedicated body to monitor AI, comprising experts in AI and law, or agencies such as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and CyberSecurity Malaysia, to ensure compliance, investigate issues, and impose penalties on non-compliant companies. "Humans must remain the main actors. "For critical AI systems, there should always be a way for a human to step in, override decisions, or take control if the AI makes a mistake or if human judgment is necessary," he said. He said there should also be clear accountability in the event of an incident. "Who is responsible? Is it the company that created the AI tool, the company that uses it, or the end-user?" he said. Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia Cybersecurity Research Centre director Prof Dr Selvakumar Manickam said proactive legislation is essential to manage risks, prevent misuse, and build public trust in emerging technologies. He said that without a dedicated legal framework, Malaysia risks facing serious challenges from AI-driven threats such as deepfakes and algorithmic bias, which could leave citizens vulnerable and blur lines of accountability. "Legislation must mandate that security and privacy are engineered into AI systems and the data processes that build them, starting from the design phase. "These systems should only be deployed after meeting critical requirements for safety and transparency. "The law must strongly require human oversight as a non-negotiable component of any high-risk system, ensuring final decisions remain with humans and establishing clear lines of accountability enforced by a properly empowered regulator," he said.
