Kuala lumpur: The Digital Ministry is set to further transform the national digital landscape under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) with major initiatives, including the establishment of a National Data Bank and the deployment of digital twin technology. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the National Data Bank would serve as a national repository for high-quality datasets across ministries and sectors, enabling streamlined data access and improved analytics.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the national digital twin systems would provide real-time modeling capabilities to simulate complex environments, helping policymakers test and refine decisions. Gobind stated that these technologies would power AI-based decision-making across domains such as urban planning, disaster response, logistics, and healthcare.
Gobind also announced plans to establish a National Data Commission, an independent body under the ministry aimed at safeguarding data assets and fostering responsible innovation. The proposed commission would oversee data governance, enforce secure sharing practices, promote ethical data use, and support transparent cross-sector data collaboration. It would play a critical role in managing the national digital infrastructure and enhancing public trust in an increasingly data-driven economy.
In addition, GovTech Malaysia will spearhead the transformation of digital public services by coordinating efforts across ministries and agencies. Its pivotal role will be in deploying comprehensive digital public infrastructure, enhancing system interoperability, and accelerating the rollout of end-to-end online services. A flagship initiative under RMK13 is the creation of a single government service window, anchored by the MyGov mobile application and the malaysia.gov.my portal, providing citizens with unified, secure, and personalized access to public services through a single platform. Access to this platform will be exclusively enabled via MyDigital ID, ensuring a secure and universal digital credential for all Malaysians.
According to Gobind, these initiatives support the government’s target for 95 percent of federal government services to be delivered fully online by 2030 and align with the aspiration to place Malaysia among the top 20 countries in the United Nations’ eGovernment Development Index (Online Service Index) by the same year. Gobind emphasized that the RMK-13 signifies a national commitment, serving as a blueprint for Malaysia to become a digitally advanced, highly productive, prosperous, and citizen-centric nation. This reflects Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment to ensuring the success of the country’s agenda towards Malaysia Digital 2030.
On the upcoming ASEAN AI Summit, scheduled from August 12-13, and the Kuala Lumpur Smart City Expo from September 17-19, Gobind highlighted that these events would serve as perfect platforms for the ministry to expand on the initiatives listed in the 13MP. Gobind noted that these events would benefit local players and foreign guests, showcasing Malaysia’s aspiration to be a global player in the digital sphere. Such events are also expected to attract investors to Malaysia’s thriving digital economy, which recorded RM163.6 billion in total approved digital investments last year.