Kuala lumpur: Malaysia must move beyond debating whether to ‘adopt or adapt’ to artificial intelligence (AI) and instead focus on doing both effectively to secure the country’s digital future, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. Speaking at the SIRIM International Conference on Quality and Innovation 2025, he emphasized that adoption and adaptation are ‘two wings of the same bird’, essential for driving innovation while safeguarding trust.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Gobind noted that AI use is growing rapidly worldwide, yet many organizations are still struggling to scale its deployment. Citing a global McKinsey survey, he highlighted that nearly nine out of 10 organizations use AI in at least one function but have yet to embed the technology across their operations.
The minister mentioned that Malaysia is already witnessing the benefits of early-stage adoption, with AWS reporting that about 2.4 million local businesses, approximately 27 percent of enterprises, have begun using AI. In sectors like healthcare, agriculture, logistics, and manufacturing, AI is proving beneficial by improving patient outcomes, guiding precision farming, reducing downtime, cutting waste, and boosting productivity.
Gobind also pointed out that within the standards and quality ecosystem, AI is automating inspection and certification processes, thus enhancing consistency and identifying defects that might be overlooked by human inspectors. He mentioned that the government has observed positive outcomes from its public sector pilot project, which utilized AI tools to enhance productivity.
He cautioned, however, that Malaysia must adapt its systems, institutions, and workforce to the deeper changes brought by AI. He raised important questions regarding maintaining ethical standards, balancing automation with human oversight, and ensuring safety alongside speed.
The minister outlined Malaysia’s preparation for these challenges through three fronts: infrastructure, digital trust, and talent. Efforts are being made to strengthen the data, connectivity, and compute foundations necessary to support future AI systems and local innovators.
Gobind highlighted ongoing efforts to reinforce digital trust, such as the Cyber Security Act 2024, the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, and the development of the National AI Action Plan (2026-2030) by the National AI Office (NAIO). The Digital Trust and Data Security Strategy for 2026-2030 is also being developed to ensure that Malaysia’s AI advancements are supported by strong governance and digital ecosystem integrity.
NAIO is aligning Malaysia with international AI standards, including localizing key ISO standards on AI management, risk governance, and lifecycle practices. In terms of talent readiness, a study by TalentCorp found that 620,000 jobs across 10 critical sectors are expected to be significantly affected over the next three to five years.
To address this shift, the government has established the MyMahir National AI Council for Industry, which coordinates AI talent development, adoption strategies, and cross-sectoral collaboration among government, academia, and industry. These efforts are bolstered by global partnerships aimed at training hundreds of thousands of Malaysians in AI literacy and skills.
Gobind concluded that Malaysia’s AI future hinges on its ability to advance innovation while maintaining public trust, emphasizing that both adoption and adaptation are crucial for a successful AI ecosystem that benefits all.