MALAYSIA SHOULD CONSIDER BECOMING OBSERVER STATE TO COE AI COMMITTEE - KULA SEGARAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia must give serious consideration to apply to become an Observer State to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee of the Council of Europe (CoE), following the adoption of CoE’s Framework Convention on AI and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law.

Chairperson of the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) Malaysia National Group M. Kula Segaran, in a statement, said such a move would enable Malaysia to have a voice at the table during the early, crucial and formative years of the Framework Convention, prior to its formal entry into force.

He said the European Union and 16 other countries are currently involved in negotiations on the finer details of the convention, which must first be ratified before Malaysia can consider signing and ratifying it as well.

“However, the gateway to this is for Malaysia to be an Observer State where we can enjoy priority access to key information, thinking and deliberations,” he said.

Yesterday, Kula Segaran, who is also Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), chaired a Regional Asia-Pacific Webinar on Responsible AI, which was also attended by the legal officer from CoE’s Committee on AI, Vadim Pak.

Kula Segaran said the Framework Convention, the first-ever international legally binding treaty in the field, aims to ensure that activities within the lifecycle of artificial intelligence systems are fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law, while being conducive to technological progress and innovation.

To date, Kula Segaran said no ASEAN country has become an Observer State to the CoE’s AI Committee on the Framework Convention, noting that Malaysia would be the first in the region if it chooses to do so.

“Last week, South Korea, a leading name in the world of artificial intelligence, initiated the process to become an Observer State to the AI Committee of the CoE,” he said.

Kula Segaran said Malaysia has recently been invited to join the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which was also prepared within the CoE, and taking the step to request Observer State status would be a logical and complementary move, consistent with the government’s priority to improve AI governance in an innovation-friendly manner.

He said the MADANI Government has taken proactive steps in this regard, including the introduction of the Online Safety Act 2025 by the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department to promote the safe use of the internet and to some extent safeguard against the harmful use of AI.

He said the National AI Office (NAIO) established by the Digital Ministry, also plays a key role in overseeing the implementation of the AI Technology Action Plan 2026-2030, focusing on technology, talent, governance and infrastructure.

“With all the efforts taken by various ministries on safeguarding, regulating and governing AI, it is an opportune moment for Malaysia to seriously consider being an Observer State to the AI Committee of the CoE in connection with the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law,” he said. 

-- BERNAMA