Malaysia plans to launch national AI office

The Malaysian Government plans to launch the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO) in Kuala Lumpur on December 12, according to the country’s Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

The office will play a key role in helping the government formulate appropriate policies for artificial intelligence (AI) development and drafting relevant laws for AI, the official said on the sidelines of the Data Centre Supply Chain Ecosystem Summit recently held by GDS International (GDSI) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

In a written response in Parliament on October 23, the minister stated that the establishment of the NAIO is expected to enhance the country’s AI capabilities by fostering innovation, promoting cross-sector collaboration and supporting AI integration within the government’s framework, industry and society.

Additionally, NAIO will also lead initiatives to harness AI to strengthen the digital economy, improve public services and contribute to sustainable development.

Meanwhile, Gobind said the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) will open an office in Johor next month to facilitate investments related to the digital economy.

He said this would be the second MDEC office outside the Klang Valley after Penang, in preparation to assist investors ahead of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) signing ceremony, which is expected to take place later this year.

MDEC will see how the country facilitate the process if investors show interest in investing and participating in JS-SEZ, and to make it easier for them to come to Johor to start their business, he said.