PM Anwar launches National Artificial Intelligence Office Dec 12 – Gobind

JOHOR BAHRU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to launch the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO) in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 12, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

He said the office would play a role in helping the government enact policies appropriate to the development of AI.

“The important thing is that we launch this office (NAIO); after that, we get input from the entire industry related to the needs of this industry (AI).

“When we move towards AI, we look at the aspect of how it brings good, but in time, whether there are risks involved and how we can take advantage of the balance and risks of AI,” he told reporters after officiating the GDS Data Center Supply Chain Ecosystem Summit here. today.

Also present were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Liew Ching Tong, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GDS Holdings Ltd. William Huang.

In a written reply in Parliament last Wednesday, the Digital Ministry informed that the establishment of NAIO is able to improve the country’s AI capabilities by fostering innovation, promoting collaboration across sectors, and supporting the integration of AI into the framework of government, industry, and society.

In addition, NAIO also spearheads initiatives that leverage AI to strengthen the digital economy, improve public services, and contribute to sustainable development.

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

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

“MDEC will see how we simplify the process if any investors show interest in investing and taking part in JS-SEZ; this will make it easier for them to come to Johor to start business,” he said.

Gobind said Johor is ready to become a data center hub based on the efforts carried out by the state government in providing basic facilities and support to the industry.

Meanwhile, Onn Hafiz said the state government has established the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC) to ensure sufficient local skilled manpower for the data center industry.

“The Deputy Prime Minister will launch the JTDC on Nov 3,” he said.

Earlier, Gobind and Onn Hafiz witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between GDS International and five major supplier companies to develop a supply chain system in Malaysia.

The one-day summit attracted around 400 participants from home and abroad, as well as suppliers from China, Malaysia, the United States, and Japan, who presented their latest data center services and solutions in an exhibition format.

The summit also highlighted the important impact of the supply chain on the data center industry, encouraged collaboration between government agencies and industry leaders, and highlighted various investment opportunities in the country.

— BERNAMA