Latest news with #NAIO
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
NAIO to submit AI law proposal to Digital Ministry by end of June
SEPANG: The National AI Office (NAIO) will submit its proposals on artificial intelligence (AI) laws to the Digital Ministry by the end of this month. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said NAIO has been tasked with submitting its recommendations on AI legislation to help develop a comprehensive governance framework. "The Digital Ministry has commenced the process by holding dialogues with the right now, we are engaging and interacting with all the relevant ministries and agencies. "Once I get the suggestions from the NAIO, we will put up a paper to the Cabinet. We will seek its guidance as to what to do next. If that paper is passed and accepted by Cabinet, we will have to start work on the Bill itself," he told reporters after launching the RAI Portal here Tuesday (June 17). Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had stated on Monday (June 16) that Malaysia is studying to develop AI legislation to address legal complexities in the digital age. She said she has written to Gobind to propose a meeting between the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) and the Digital Ministry to initiate a discussion on drafting new AI laws. According to Azalina, Malaysia has no specific laws focused on AI because, unlike traditional technologies, AI operates on an entirely different platform. - Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
NAIO hails France's Station F as model for startups, AI advancement
NAIO head Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid said the office is building cross-border innovation pathways in sectors such as healthcare, transport, agriculture, education, public services and MSMEs. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : France's vibrant startup ecosystem, exemplified by Station F, offers a compelling roadmap for Malaysia's artificial intelligence (AI) entrepreneurs, says the head of Malaysia's National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO). Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid said Station F, the world's largest startup facility located in the heart of Paris, boasts more than 1,000 startups, an installed presence of global venture capital and a deep corporate innovation network. Inspired by this model, he said NAIO is building cross-border innovation pathways in sectors such as healthcare, transport, agriculture, education, public services and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Speaking at the launch of the France-Malaysia Innovation Day 2025, Shamsul said France has set a new high bar in technology innovation, emphasising the government's commitment to continued collaboration and idea sharing between Malaysia and France. 'By reducing friction in cross-border research and development, we empower AI startups to thrive on both sides of the world. 'This is how AI diplomacy becomes real: with a focus on collaboration, shared governance and sector legal information that corresponds to the challenges of our time,' he said. By connecting France's technological depth with Malaysia's talent, Shamsul said Malaysia is more than prepared to build inventions that are not only advanced but also adaptive, inclusive and human-centred. 'France's contributions to AI, engineering and cutting-edge research, from quantum machine learning to world-leading robotics, offer boundless avenues for joint collaboration.' French ambassador to Malaysia Axel Cruau, who was also present at the event, affirmed Malaysia's role in spearheading digital innovation in Southeast Asia. 'With Malaysia's chairmanship of Asean this year, its push for the Asean Digital Economic Framework Agreement (Defa), and its organisation of Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is poised to position itself as a regional leader for innovation, digital transformation, and ethical AI use,' he said. Defa, introduced at the 2023 Asean Economic Ministers' meeting in Indonesia, provides a vision of digital transformation committed to empowering Asean businesses in unlocking a borderless era of economic growth. Cruau also reiterated France's commitment to supporting Malaysian tech startups through French Tech Malaysia, a French government initiative aimed at expanding the country's entrepreneurial ecosystem in Malaysia.
New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia approves 107 new digital firms with RM13.1bil investments in Q1
KUALA LUMPUR: The government approved 107 new companies under the Malaysia Digital (MD) framework in the first quarter of 2025, with a combined investment value of RM13.1 billion. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, speaking at the UK-Malaysia Digital Gateway Forum in London, said the investments are expected to generate 4,199 new jobs over the next five years. He noted that the sectoral breakdown of these approvals reflects Malaysia's diverse and future-focused digital economy. Global business services led with 49 companies, projecting a revenue of RM6.8 billion, followed by infotech with 51 companies, bringing in an estimated RM1.9 billion in revenue and the digital creative content sector saw seven companies approved, with a projected revenue of RM500 million. The top three activity areas among these MD-approved companies were data centre and cloud services (28 companies); artificial intelligence (AI) (23 companies) and global business services (15 companies). "These figures are a clear indication of Malaysia's commitment to becoming a thriving, future-ready digital hub that is open to international partnerships and poised for high-value, sustainable growth, he said in a statement. Gobind added that the country's ibrant digital ecosystem is underpinned by recent regulatory reforms, including the Cyber Security Act 2024, Data Sharing Act 2024 and the establishment of the National AI Office (NAIO), as well as cutting-edge infrastructure and a robust talent pipeline. Gobind is in London for the London Tech Week, which serves as a platform for Malaysia to gather insights and forge partnerships in emerging fields such as AI governance, smart cities and digital sustainability. The forum, co-organised by the Malaysian Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC) and the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (BMCC), brought together over 80 UK-based technology companies and 23 Malaysian firms, facilitating direct engagement and partnership opportunities. As part of the event's objectives, the Digital Ministry aims to identify UK tech companies that are keen to expand in Southeast Asia. Gobind invited United Kingdom (UK) technology businesses to collaborate in shaping a dynamic digital future in the country. He underscored Malaysia's position as a strategic regional hub for innovation, digital investment and sustainable technology advancement. "Malaysia is open for innovation. Our vision is anchored on three critical enablers - world-class infrastructure, trusted data governance and institutional trust. "These are the foundations that make Malaysia a prime destination for high-value tech investment in the region," he said. The minister also extended an invitation to UK partners to join upcoming flagship events including the Asean Malaysia AI Summit in August 2025 and the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur in September 2025.
Free Malaysia Today
03-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
AI regulatory framework report expected by end-June, says Gobind
Digital minister Gobind Singh Deo said the government's approach to AI would prioritise strong governance and public trust in digital technologies. KUALA LUMPUR : A full report outlining Malaysia's proposed regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to be completed by the end of June, according to digital minister Gobind Singh Deo. The report, currently being finalised by the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO), established last year under the digital ministry, will form the basis for how the country approaches AI regulation, whether through legislation, new rules or the adoption of common standards. 'Discussions with industry stakeholders are ongoing, and several views have already been presented,' he told reporters at the launch of the cybersecurity Professional Capability Development Programme. 'I hope that by the end of June, we will have a report from NAIO that can help chart an appropriate course for AI governance in Malaysia.' Also present at the event were digital ministry secretary-general Fabian Bigar, CyberSecurity Malaysia CEO Amirudin Abdul Wahab, and Sanjay Bavisi, president of EC-Council, a company involved in cybersecurity consultancy and training. Gobind said the government's approach to AI would prioritise strong governance and public trust in digital technologies. 'Amid this digital transformation, risks will inevitably arise. We must carefully consider how best to ensure public trust in digital platforms,' he said. He added that any regulatory model must take into account the specific risks and characteristics of each sector affected by AI, given the technology's wide-ranging impact on all industries.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
AI regulatory framework in the works, full report due by end of June
KUALA LUMPUR: A full report outlining Malaysia's proposed regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to be completed by the end of June, according to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. The report, currently being finalised by the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO), established last year under the Digital Ministry, will form the basis for how the country approaches AI regulation, whether through legislation, new rules, or the adoption of common standards. 'Discussions with industry stakeholders are ongoing and several views have already been presented. I hope that by the end of June, we will have a report from NAIO that can help chart an appropriate course for AI governance in Malaysia,' he said. He was speaking to reporters at the launch of the Cybersecurity Professional Capability Development Programme. Also in attendance were the ministry's secretary general Fabian Bigar, CyberSecurity Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab and EC-Council president Sanjay Bavisi. Gobind said the government's approach to AI would prioritise strong governance and public trust in digital technologies. 'Amid this digital transformation, risks will inevitably arise. We must carefully consider how best to ensure public trust in digital platforms,' he said. He added that any regulatory model must take into account the specific risks and characteristics of each sector affected by AI, given the technology's wide-ranging impact across industries.
