FAHMI, GOBIND CALL FOR STRONGER DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM TO DRIVE AI READINESS

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo have stressed the urgent need for Malaysia to strengthen its digital ecosystem to fully harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and remain competitive amid rapid global technological change.

Speaking at the ‘Ministerial Forum: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Future Workforce’, held in conjunction with the International Young Future Leaders Summit (iFuture) 2025 here today, both ministers underlined the importance of readiness, responsible adoption and a whole-of-nation approach in embracing AI.

Fahmi said AI should be seen as a complementary tool to enhance human capability, not as a replacement.

“What’s more important than using these technologies is to possess the right frame of mind. It’s no longer ‘to be or not to be’ but the question now is, what is the question?” he said.

The forum was moderated by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Chairman Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar.

Fahmi said students are generally more open to embracing AI compared to lecturers or administrators, emphasising the role of leadership in guiding its responsible use.

“Those in leadership positions tend to be more conservative. But as leaders, we must show the way on how best to adapt and adopt emerging technologies,” he said.

Fahmi cited McKinsey & Company’s Super Agency in the Workplace report, which found that employees are often more ready than corporate leaders to embrace digital transformation.

He also shared that Pos Malaysia’s sorting machines can process 22,000 letters a minute compared with 1,500 a day by a human worker, yet still rely on people to interpret unclear handwriting, which proves that technology still has its limits.

Fahmi said public agencies are already applying AI effectively, citing the Auditor-General’s Department’s use of AI to summarise reports in days instead of months.

However, Fahmi warned that AI also poses risks of abuse, especially through deepfakes and scams.

“While AI offers tremendous opportunities, it also opens the door for abuse. Many have contacted me saying their faces were used in deepfake scams,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gobind emphasised that Malaysia must build a strong foundation of infrastructure, data, and trust to prepare for AI transformation.

“We need to understand the philosophy behind AI. This gives us the perspective to craft strategies that prepare our country to take advantage of this technology,” he said.

He said the recently enacted Data Sharing Act, effective April 28 this year, will enable ministries and agencies to digitise data securely and develop AI-driven solutions.

Malaysia, he added, is attracting major global tech firms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google, Oracle and NVIDIA to set up data centres in the country, reinforcing its digital capacity, a development crucial to ensuring the country has the computing power needed for an AI-driven economy.

He stressed that confidence and readiness must grow alongside innovation, noting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s vision of making Malaysia an AI nation by 2030 requires immediate, coordinated action across all sectors to avoid being left behind.

-- BERNAMA