PM: Thailand, Cambodia chose M'sia as mediator due to political stability, economy
He also said that as a friendly country, Malaysia was proud to be able to help resolve the conflict between the two Asian countries, thus ensuring the region remains peaceful and stable...
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The Sun
37 minutes ago
- The Sun
Cautious optimism over Malaysia's ambition to become AI-driven nation
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's bold plan to become an AI-driven nation by 2030 unveiled under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) has drawn cautious optimism from both industry and academia, who agree the roadmap is ambitious but achievable if executed effectively. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's 13MP positions AI (artificial intelligence) as a key driver of Malaysia's transition to a high-value digital economy, anchored by initiatives such as the National AI Action Plan, MyDigital ID and major foreign investments in AI and cloud infrastructure. Cybersecurity firm LGMS Bhd's chairman, Fong Choong Fook, said the initiatives signal a turning point for Malaysia's digital ecosystem. 'Malaysia's tech ecosystem stands to gain the most from three key areas in the 13MP,' he said, citing the acceleration of the National AI Action Plan, the full digitalisation of public services by 2030, and major foreign investments as game-changers. 'First, the acceleration of the National AI Action Plan and full digitalisation of public services will unlock huge demand for AI, cybersecurity and GovTech solutions,' Fong explained. 'Second, the MyDigital ID and unified GovTech gateway are critical where they lay the digital infrastructure needed for secure transactions, identity management and seamless service delivery.' Fong noted that large-scale foreign commitments are already reshaping Malaysia's digital landscape. 'Major investments like Microsoft's RM10 billion AI and cloud initiative and ByteDance's RM10 billion data centre and AI hub in Johor signal strong global confidence and will directly fuel job creation and knowledge transfer,' he said. Despite these positive developments, Fong cautioned that several structural challenges must be addressed to fully realise RMK13's ambitions. 'Talent remains the biggest bottleneck. We're seeing a lot of reskilling efforts, but these must be laser-focused on industry-relevant AI and digital capabilities,' he said. He also highlighted weaknesses in Malaysia's early-stage funding ecosystem. 'We still lack a robust pipeline for seed-to-Series A capital, especially for deep tech and AI-driven start-ups.' On regulation, Fong called for clearer governance frameworks to support innovation responsibly. 'AI ethics, safety and data use policies are still evolving. Clearer rules are essential to enable responsible innovation at scale,' he said, while commending Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo for laying strong groundwork through the National AI Framework and the establishment of the National AI Office. Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Big Data director Dr Muhammad Akmal Remli echoed the view that 13MP's AI push is a milestone moment, but stressed that implementation will determine success. 'The initiatives outlined in 13MP reflect a comprehensive and holistic approach. It's encouraging to see AI positioned as a top national priority,' he said. 'This clear direction signals strong political will to integrate AI into key sectors and public services.' Akmal welcomed the plan's focus on strengthening research, development, commercialisation and innovation, saying it could create a foundation for deeper collaboration between academia, government and industry. 'This is crucial to help Malaysia move beyond just AI adoption into actual AI innovation and even exports,' he said. Both experts agreed that Malaysia's aspiration to lead Asean in AI by 2030 is ambitious but achievable, provided key gaps are addressed. 'The real challenge lies in implementation,' Akmal said. 'It's not just about policy documents but ensuring we have the right people, the right expertise and the right strategies on the ground.' He emphasised that Malaysia must first strengthen its talent pipeline by producing more skilled AI practitioners and embedding AI literacy into tertiary and vocational education. Equally important, he said, is boosting funding and incentives for applied AI research to encourage deeper collaboration between industry and academia. Akmal also highlighted the need for clear, forward-looking policies on data privacy, ethics and cybersecurity to foster public trust and attract investment. 'Without robust data governance, innovation will be limited, and public confidence will suffer,' he noted. In addition, he pointed out that Malaysia needs stronger cloud and high-performance computing infrastructure, as well as greater access to open datasets, to enable meaningful AI innovation. Rather than focusing solely on competing head-to-head with regional players, Akmal said, Malaysia should position itself as a competitive AI hub that fosters collaboration and healthy competition within Asean. Fong said Malaysia's strengths, from cloud infrastructure and 5G rollout to its multilingual workforce, provide a solid platform to build upon. 'With the right focus, especially as Asean Chair 2025, we can position ourselves as a regional AI and digital hub, not by outspending others, but by being the most agile, inclusive and implementation-focused,' he said. Both agreed that continued investment, regulatory clarity and coordinated execution will be critical for Malaysia to transform AI ambition into sustainable economic growth and regional leadership.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Modi: Support local amid tariffs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified his push to prioritise locally-made products amid global economic instability in the wake of US trade tariffs. Modi urged citizens to buy, sell and promote Indian products, citing global economic uncertainty but without referring to US tariffs. 'The world economy is going through many apprehensions, there is an atmosphere of instability,' he said at a rally in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. 'Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.' Modi's renewed emphasis on domestic manufacturing and consumption echoes his long-standing 'Make in India' initiative. However, the message has taken on new urgency after Trump imposed 25% tariffs on exports from the South Asian nation to the US. The US president recently accused India of maintaining disproportionately high tariffs compared with other Asian nations, and warned of further penalties, citing India's ongoing energy and defence deals with Russia. Modi underscored the importance of shielding India's economic interests during uncertain global conditions. 'The interests of our farmers, our small industries and the employment of our youth are of paramount importance,' he told the rally. India has to remain vigilant about its economic interests, when other countries are focusing on their own interests, he said. — Bloomberg
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
‘M'sia trusted to lead peace talks'
Fruitful discussions: Anwar taking a closer look at locally produced fruits from Sabah during the closing ceremony of the National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen's Day 2025 in Kota Kinabalu as Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (back row, second from left) looks on. — Photo taken from Anwar Ibrahim's Facebook page KOTA KINABALU: Thailand and Cambodia have entrusted Malaysia to lead peace talks between them due to our friendly diplomacy, stable politics and developing economy, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said Malaysia, as a friendly nation, is proud to play a role in resolving the conflict between the two neighbouring countries, helping to ensure regional peace and stability. 'When Cambodia and Thailand were in conflict, Malaysia successfully negotiated peace terms. 'Both sides placed their trust in us and agreed to hold talks in Kuala Lumpur,' he said. Anwar added that Cambodian Defence Minister Gen Tea Seiha and Thai acting Defence Minister Gen Natthaphon Narkphanit are expected to arrive in Kuala Lumpur today to engage in detailed discussions aimed at further easing tensions. Anwar said Malaysia's role in the peace negotiations has elevated its standing on the global stage, attracting the attention of world leaders, including those from Germany, France and other Asian nations. 'US President Donald J. Trump personally called at 6.50am to congratulate us on our success in brokering peace between the two countries. 'Indonesia also reached out with similar praise,' he said during the closing ceremony of the National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen's Day here yesterday. On July 28, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire following a special meeting in Putrajaya chaired by Anwar, in Malaysia's capacity as current Asean Chair. The meeting also saw both parties agreeing to hold a General Border Committee meeting as part of the ceasefire implementation. On another matter, Anwar said Malaysia is not surrendering anything by choosing to engage in amicable discussions with Indonesia to resolve the Sulawesi Sea maritime dispute. He stressed that such an approach reflects Malaysia's desire to maintain friendly ties with Indonesia. 'Indonesia is a friendly nation, and President Prabowo Subianto is a personal family friend,' Anwar said, adding that discussions must be held in accordance with the law. He emphasised the importance of involving Sabah and Sarawak in any deliberations, stating that any decision must first obtain the approval of the respective state governments and legislative assemblies. 'This is our country. We fight and spend hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, just to protect Sabah's rights,' he said, referring to the defunct Sulu sultanate's claims over the state. On the potential undersea project collaboration between PETRONAS and Indonesian oil and gas corporation Pertamina, Anwar clarified that it has yet to be finalised. He noted that both countries must continue discussions on working terms, especially in areas involving land and sea resource development that require clear coordination. As an example, he pointed out that while oil extracted from land belongs to Sabah, underwater resources may fall within Indonesian maritime boundaries, among other states and nations. 'This is what we are working on together, and it all depends on ongoing negotiations,' he said. Anwar and Prabowo recently issued a joint statement pledging to explore a proposed joint development in the Sulawesi Sea, including the Ambalat block, in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner. The Ambalat block, located off the coast of Sabah and spanning some 15,000 sq km, is believed to contain substantial crude oil reserves. Separately, Anwar said national carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is able to purchase new aircraft due to healthy financial performance and sound management. The Prime Minister said the decision to acquire 30 Boeing aircraft also reflected Malaysia's effective trade diplomacy with the United States. 'For the first time last year, MAS recorded a profit because we did not 'sakau' (steal),' he quipped. He credited the economic recovery to political stability and strategic ties with countries such as the United States. Anwar noted that many agreements have been reached for Malaysia's economic benefit, including the aircraft deal, which he said was finalised about four or five months ago.
