
Nominations open for Pikom Digital Excellence Awards 2025
Organised by the National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom), the annual awards celebrate individuals and companies that are driving transformation across Malaysia's digital economy.
Pikom chairman Alex Liew said the awards went beyond recognising achievement, as they validated the transformative power of digital innovation in the country.
"Being recognised at the PDEA is a defining moment for both individuals and organisations. It opens new doors, enhances credibility, and extends influence," he said in a statement today.
The 2025 edition follows the success of last year's awards, which honoured 33 recipients — including two companies that are now preparing to list on Bursa Malaysia or transition from the LEAP to the ACE market.
Award categories span a wide range of sectors, including cybersecurity, fintech, e-commerce, cloud services, artificial intelligence, ESG in tech, and outstanding digital transformation initiatives.
There are also individual accolades for technology luminaries, chief information officers, women tech leaders, and tech entrepreneurs.
Nominations will be evaluated by a panel of industry experts, based on criteria such as innovation, impact, execution, leadership, and alignment with Malaysia's digital economy agenda.
The awards ceremony will conclude with a gala night on Sept 10 at the Sunway Resort Hotel.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
01-08-2025
- The Sun
Defining moment for Malaysia's AI, data centre ambitions
PETALING JAYA: As US-led semiconductor chip restrictions tighten and regional energy costs rise, Malaysia faces a defining moment in its artificial intelligence (AI) and data centre ambitions. Industry leaders say these global disruptions could either stall the nation's progress or become the very trigger that accelerates its push for AI self-reliance and digital sovereignty. National Tech Association of Malaysia research committee chairman Woon Tai Hai said the recent US export curbs on high-end AI chips, such as Nvidia's H100 and A100, are already impacting AI-focused startups, research institutions and data centre operators in Malaysia. 'These chips are crucial for training large AI models and powering generative AI applications. Without them, we're seeing delays in deployment and increased costs for local developers,' he told SunBiz. While some companies are pivoting to older graphic processing unit (GPU) models or exploring Chinese-made alternatives, such as Huawei's Ascend chips, the transition is not seamless. Compatibility issues, software support gaps and geopolitical uncertainty make it a complex adjustment. Meanwhile, electricity and cooling costs have surged, especially with Malaysia's high ambient temperatures pushing the limits of energy efficiency in data centres. Coupled with US tariffs on Malaysian exports and the weakening ringgit, Woon said, the environment is increasingly hostile for small players. 'This triple hit of chip shortages, energy inflation and trade pressure could force some AI projects to downscale or pause altogether.' However, Woon believes this challenge presents a rare opportunity for Malaysia to reposition itself. 'We are still an attractive alternative to Singapore for hyperscalers, especially with land and energy constraints over there,' he said, pointing to recent investments such as Google's RM9.4 billion data centre in Selangor. He added that Malaysia could leverage this disruption to double down on home-grown capabilities, forge new global partnerships beyond the US-China binary and evolve from being just a digital consumer to a true AI contributor. 'This is not just a supply chain issue; it's a wake-up call. If we want to lead in AI, we can't import our way to success,' Woon stressed. Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Big Data director Dr Muhammad Akmal Remli warned that Malaysia's long-standing dependency on foreign hardware, cloud platforms and proprietary models has become a strategic liability. 'The AI ecosystem doesn't just rely on talent and data. It runs on compute power and right now, Malaysia doesn't own its compute destiny,' he said. Akmal called for a comprehensive localisation strategy, beginning with substantial investment in foundational AI research and development through universities, public research agencies and long-term national programmes. 'We can't just be training people to use ChatGPT. We need to train them to build the next generation of language models,' he explained. Beyond research and development, Akmal proposed the creation of strategic hardware stockpiles and investment in alternative chip architectures, such as RISC-V, Graphcore and Tenstorrent, to diversify away from US-made GPUs. 'Waiting for supply to return to normal is naive. This is structural, not cyclical,' he warned. Akmal also urged the government to champion a sovereign compute initiative, a state-supported push to establish Malaysia's own high-performance computing infrastructure. 'This is no longer a luxury. We need our own compute backbone to support AI research, secure data hosting and digital services that cannot be outsourced,' he said. While some pilot efforts exist, Akmal noted that they remain fragmented and underfunded. What's missing, he said, is a unified national AI policy that aligns research, compute infrastructure, industry application and talent development under one coordinated strategy. 'Right now, we have isolated efforts by Mimos, Mosti, universities and agencies like MRANTI, but they aren't talking to each other. We need a central AI authority or framework to synchronise this,' he said. Akmal also cautioned that Malaysia's delay in building domestic capacity will ultimately result in higher costs. 'We are not just competing for tech, we're competing for independence. The AI race is about who owns the tools of the future, and right now we're still borrowing them,' he said. Akmal believes that Malaysia still has the talent, infrastructure and investor interest to build a competitive, ethical and independent AI ecosystem, but only if it takes bold steps now. 'AI is not just about innovation anymore. It's about sovereignty, resilience and relevance in a fractured world.'


The Sun
01-08-2025
- The Sun
Experts cautiously welcome AI and 5G vision
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's ambitious plan to expand 5G coverage and accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) adoption has drawn cautious praise from experts who say the country is on the right track but only if gaps in infrastructure, talent and governance are urgently addressed. 'In the next five years, we'll see rapid advancements in technologies like digital twin systems, predictive maintenance and additive manufacturing – all of which rely on fast, stable connectivity,' said Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) AI manufacturing expert Dr Yupiter HP Manurung. 'These are long-term investments that can boost national resilience, but only if matched with strong local capabilities.' The National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom) also welcomed the focus on digital transformation in the 13MP. 'Pikom applauds the government's commitment to building a future-ready digital ecosystem that accelerates adoption of AI and 5G, empowering businesses and communities alike,' said its chairman Alex Liew. 'However, visionary planning alone is not enough – successful execution and robust monitoring are critical.' Liew emphasised the need to bridge infrastructure gaps and digital literacy disparities to ensure broad-based inclusion. 'Inclusivity must remain a core principle – guaranteeing equitable benefits across all demographics.' He also urged the government to approach GovTech not as a siloed effort, but as a collaborative process. 'To realise Malaysia's ambition as a leading AI-driven nation, GovTech must involve the quadruple helix collaboration (a concept of interaction between major segments of the society) in which the government, industry, academia and civil society are co-creators of public digital services.' He called for structured public-private working groups, open innovation models and agile policy frameworks to strengthen areas such as service interoperability and procurement reform. The digital reforms are aimed at expanding 5G coverage to 98% of residential, industrial and rural areas. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told Parliament that the initiative is part of a broader effort to build a strong digital backbone that enables inclusive participation in the AI-driven economy. 'This isn't just about infrastructure – it's about ensuring that every Malaysian, wherever they are, can take part in the digital future.'


The Sun
30-06-2025
- The Sun
BAC Education partners with PIKOM for tech leaders MBA programme
THE digital transformation era has created an unprecedented demand for technology-savvy business leaders, prompting BAC Education and the National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM) to forge a strategic partnership that addresses this critical skills gap. Historic Collaboration Launches The two organisations formalised their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 25, at Menara BAC. The signing ceremony took place during a cybersecurity resilience tech talk hosted by UNIMY and BAC Education, emphasising the timely nature of this educational initiative. Accessible Excellence in Business Education The partnership introduces an MBA programme from Veritas University College specifically designed for working ICT professionals. Priced at RM12,900 and structured for completion within 12 months, the programme removes traditional barriers to executive education whilst maintaining academic rigour. 'This collaboration with PIKOM demonstrates how industry and academia can come together to address real-world challenges,' explains Raja Singham, Co-Founder and Chief Future Officer of BAC Education. 'We're developing globally competent graduates capable of leading transformation across diverse industries and cultures. This MBA represents more than academic credentials—it's a personalised leadership development experience designed for meaningful impact.' Industry-Aligned Curriculum Design The programme features specialised pathways that allow students to customise their learning experience according to career objectives and industry demands: - Data Analytics specialisation - Digital Transformation focus - AI and Machine Learning in Business applications - Fintech and Blockchain Management - Technology and Innovation Management - Cybersecurity for Business Leaders (coming soon) Strategic Industry Integration PIKOM's involvement extends beyond endorsement to active co-branding of the MBA programme, leveraging the association's extensive network throughout Malaysia's technology sector. This collaboration ensures curriculum relevance and industry connectivity for programme participants. Anthony Raja Devadoss, secretary-general of PIKOM and managing director of Agensi Pekerjaan Korn Ferry (M) Sdn Bhd, views this partnership as transformative for Malaysia's digital economy. 'This initiative marks a pivotal moment for our technology ecosystem,' he states. 'Through our collaboration with BAC Education, we're ensuring that our members—the professionals shaping Malaysia's digital transformation—have access to world-class, industry-aligned education that is both practical and progressive.' Meeting Tomorrow's Leadership Demands The partnership addresses the growing recognition that traditional business education models may not adequately prepare leaders for the complexities of digital-first organisations. By combining PIKOM's industry expertise with BAC Education's academic excellence, the programme creates a bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application. This collaboration represents a broader trend towards industry-academia partnerships that prioritise relevance, accessibility, and immediate applicability in professional development programmes. For Malaysia's technology sector, it signals a commitment to nurturing homegrown leadership talent capable of competing in the global digital economy.