Malaysia must adopt AI but cannot forgo the right values, says PM

Asean 2025

Malaysia must adopt artificial intelligence (AI) without forgoing human values and dignity, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a panel session at the 2025 Fortune Asean-GCC Economic Forum on Wednesday (May 28).  Anwar said the government would resolve issues of digital sovereignty by putting the necessary legislation in place.  Read more at https://tinyurl.com/r648cjv8  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

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00:00And allow me to begin by inviting Yamaha Bormat, Prime Minister Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim,

00:09to share his views on how regional partnerships in AI can secure digital sovereignty for developing nations

00:18without being concerned by global tech rivalries.

00:24Thank you, Prime Minister Famicin Peng.

00:30That is the expert, but then you see there is a paradigm shift now.

00:37Because AI is so penetrative, so compelling,

00:42that it covers the whole spectrum of governance and daily life,

00:48that we leaders have no choice but to try and grasp this new technology.

00:56Now, second issue which relates to the issue of governance is sovereignty.

01:02Governments are there to protect sovereignty.

01:05The new technology compels and demands.

01:08If you want to accept AI, then you cannot be thinking of sovereignty in the old school of thought.

01:13But there are concerns and legitimate concerns which we can address.

01:17I am not suggesting that it is insurmountable.

01:21But we are dealing with human beings.

01:24And there are concerns expressed about values.

01:30Generally, what is considered to be the failure of a global political system now

01:36is a deficit in terms of value.

01:38People don't honor human dignity.

01:40There is no concern about justice or fairness.

01:45It is just about success and money.

01:47So, can we avoid AI? No, we can't.

01:50But it is our challenge, particularly the national leadership,

01:55to ensure that the education, the inculcation of values,

02:01what is right, what is wrong, what is just, what is oppressive.

02:05Because otherwise, we are just dictated by machines.

02:09No way can we slow down.

02:12In fact, Malaysia, I want to drive this, get all the legislations in place,

02:16get this sovereignty issue resolved.

02:20You know, I am determined to push as hard as possible.

02:25What do you need to, can you advise the two prime ministers,

02:27what do we need to do to prosper and compete?

02:29In my humble opinion, I think this AI revolution that is already upon us

02:36represents a great opportunity for nations like Vietnam and Malaysia

02:40to reposition itself in the global supply chain,

02:44in the global intelligence value chain.

02:47Gone are the days of countries trying to build factories for garments,

02:55for shoes, for t-shirts, for iPhones, and even for personal computers.

03:01We are not living in the age of building the great intelligence factories.

03:07Malaysia has an incredible sector in semiconductors.

03:12Semiconductor is a muscle.

03:14If algorithm is a brain, it is a muscle behind AI production.

03:19Vietnam has some of the best engineers in the world.

03:22Grid minds, mathematics, computer programming.

03:26We call the scientists the brain behind AI revolution.

03:32As we join hands together, for example, between GCC and Asian,

03:39to build equitable, universal AI infrastructure for the world,

03:44every country needs to find its own role in this repositioning of global supply chain.

03:51From semiconductor, skilled workers, all the way to electricity,

03:57distribution, connectivity, undersea cables, you name it.

04:01I think this is a great opportunity for each nation to find a new role,

04:07to be able to benefit from what I believe will be more than just an intelligent explosion.

04:13It will be a prosperity explosion.

04:16As my distinguished guests here, colleagues have pointed out,

04:23nations who are thinking far ahead to embrace, to adopt,

04:28and to actually learn from this ongoing technology development,

04:32will ultimately be the leaders.

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