Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Digital will emphasise Malaysia’s development as an artificial intelligence (AI) nation by 2030, together with GovTech initiatives, in the 2026 Budget. Its minister, Gobind Singh Deo, said the matter was discussed in a meeting with the Ministry of Finance ahead of the 2026 Budget, which is scheduled for Oct 10.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Gobind Singh Deo outlined the ministry’s focus areas after officiating the ‘AI for Good (Educator)’ Conference. He stated that the ministry is concentrating on enhancing Malaysia’s AI capabilities and establishing a GovTech institution to improve digital service delivery. Additionally, cybersecurity and personal data protection will be prioritized in the upcoming budget.

Gobind emphasized that the Ministry of Digital is working on creating structures to support a new digital ecosystem. The goal is to secure funding to establish these institutions and achieve the AI Nation vision by 2030, aligning with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s vision in the 13th Malaysia Plan.

The AI for Good (Educator) Conference also marked the launch of the ASEAN AI for Good (Educator) Train-the-Trainer Programme in Malaysia. As stated in a statement, the conference is a collaborative effort between the National AI Office, Meta, and AI Singapore, focusing on equipping educators with AI knowledge and tools to prepare students for the digital future. Launched at the ASEAN level in October 2024, the programme aims to reach 5,000 students across the region by 2025.