Malaysia launches AI adaptation guidelines

The digital ministry has launched the public sector AI adaptation guidelines, an initiative aimed at ensuring the ethical and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence in the public sector. 

The guidelines were developed by the national digital department (JDN) in partnership with the Malaysian digital economy corporation (MDEC). In a post sighted by A+M, MDEC said the guideline is also aligned with national priorities and international standards and addresses the specific needs of government agencies.  

MDEC added that the initiative supports Malaysia’s aspiration to become an ASEAN digital hub, as well as the corporation’s own commitment to fostering a robust AI ecosystem and to drive AI adoption across sectors. 

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Meanwhile, according to the digital ministry, the 158-page guideline provides an overview of AI, ethical principles, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, risk management, adaptation methods, and self-assessment templates to assist in the identification of the scope and impact of AI in the public sector. 

In addition, digital minister Gobind Singh Deo reportedly said in a Bernama report that the guidelines embody the core principles of accountability, transparency, and fairness. He added that AI should not be allowed to become a ‘black box’ that makes decisions without a strong system of checks and balances. 

Gobind added that at the same time, the country must continuously adapt to AI advancements, build workforce capabilities, and ensure that every AI-assisted decision is always made in the best interest of the people. 

The minister explained that feedback on the adaptation of the guidelines will be gathered every three months to ensure continuous improvements. He also reportedly said he hoped the input received would enhance competency and address emerging challenges.  

A national-level public sector AI seminar is also planned for August 2025, as a follow-up to the launch of the guidelines.  

Recently, Gobind told Parliament that the AI at Work 2.0 initiative has enable civil servants to save 3.25 working hours a week. According to the New Straits Times, this was done in collaboration with Google, and granted 445,000 civil servants with access to Google Workspace, Gemini and NotebookLM.

The initiative went live after a pilot project was carried out with 270 civil servants, where 97% of participants reported saving about 3 hours of working time a week, and 91% agreed that generative AI improved their work quality. 

The minister also said in another Bernama report, that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must embrace AI and e-invoicing to remain competitive in Malaysia's evolving digital economy. He added that SMEs must take advantage of AI-driven solutions and digital financial tools to improve business operations, reduce costs, and improve compliance efficiency. Gobind also stated that transitioning to e-invoicing will put these enterprises ahead of the curve in the digital economy.

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