Malaysia urges homegrown AI to power ASEAN markets beyond mere adoption

At the M360 ASEAN 2026 session on AI-First Enterprises, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching called for Malaysia to move beyond being an AI consumer and to foster a domestic ecosystem that can develop, deploy and scale AI solutions across ASEAN. She pointed to the country's robust digital infrastructure, including 99.75% internet coverage under JENDELA, expanding 5G networks and the SALAM submarine cable, as the backbone for such growth.

Teo stressed that AI must become a people-first capability, requiring continuous upskilling and inclusive participation of SMEs and communities. She warned that responsible AI—covering privacy, cybersecurity and transparency—will become a competitive advantage. Regionally, she cited the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement's potential to generate a $2 trillion digital economy by 2030, and highlighted initiatives like the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap 2025-2030 and the ASEAN AI Safety Network. The remarks were part of a broader push under Malaysia's National AI Action Plan 2026-2030, which coordinates 28 national initiatives across talent, research, data, compute and governance.