Kuala lumpur: The Secretariat of the ASEAN Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Network will be based in Kuala Lumpur, reaffirming Malaysia's commitment to supporting the region's digital priorities and building trusted regional digital governance. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced that the ASEAN Digital Ministers have endorsed the Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN AI Safety Network, as adopted by ASEAN Heads of Government at the 47th ASEAN Leaders' Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2025.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this development marks a significant milestone, reflecting ASEAN's commitment to advancing AI in a safe, trusted, and responsible manner. The ASEAN AI Safety Network will serve as a regional platform to enhance cooperation on capacity building, regulatory preparedness, and safeguard measures, ensuring that innovation in AI continues to advance while addressing risks and misuse effectively.
The statement was issued in conjunction with the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting (ADGMIN) and related meetings, themed 'Adaptive ASEAN: From Connectivity to Connected Intelligence', held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from Jan 12-16. At ADGMIN, Gobind highlighted the adoption of the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2026-2030 (ADM 2030) as a crucial component of ASEAN's regional digital integration, aiming to build an inclusive, trustworthy, and innovative digital community.
Gobind noted that ADM 2030 will guide the updating of national digital strategies across ASEAN Member States, ensuring stronger regional coordination and impactful implementation. Additionally, the meeting welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN Guide for Sustainable Data Centre Development, initiated by Malaysia. The guide underscores ASEAN's commitment to aligning digital infrastructure growth with sustainability goals, providing policymakers with essential tools and insights to foster a data centre industry that drives economic growth while prioritising environmental sustainability.
Gobind also mentioned his meeting with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Kao Kim Hourn, in Hanoi, where they reaffirmed Malaysia's strong commitment to ASEAN's digital future. They emphasised the importance of accelerating the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) as a key driver of ASEAN's future economic growth.
Gobind added that DEFA holds substantial economic potential for the region by enabling greater cross-border digital trade, strengthening interoperability, and improving market access. It can also unlock new growth opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by lowering barriers to participation in the regional digital economy, expanding customer reach, and creating a more seamless environment for ASEAN businesses to innovate and scale.
Gobind reiterated Malaysia's commitment to working closely with ASEAN Member States to build a secure, sustainable, and inclusive digital future, one that creates tangible opportunities for all segments of society and strengthens ASEAN's competitiveness in the global digital economy.