00:00Malaysia is shifting its focus from attracting digital investments to ensuring they translate into tangible economic benefits,
00:07including stronger local businesses, high-value jobs, and homegrown innovation.
00:12This was the key message at the MDX Forum 2026, organized by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, MDEC,
00:21which brought together about 300 representatives from the technology industry, investors, and government agencies in Petaling Jaya on Monday.
00:29The forum was officially launched by Digital Minister Gobind Singh Diyo,
00:33who said the government must also adapt as technology rapidly changes the way work is done.
00:39We need to appreciate that we are now moving in a realm where we are creating technology
00:45that may eventually take over to a very great extent what we ordinarily have done over very, very many years.
00:54That is where the significance of all of this lies when it comes to government.
00:59Now, we in MDEC have spoken about a new initiative, we call it the GII, the Government Innovation Initiative,
01:05where we bring real public sector challenges to the technology ecosystem and create opportunities made by Malaysia's solutions.
01:14With this approach, we allow government to serve not just as a medium by which we connect with industry,
01:20but we also allow government to serve as a platform for innovation,
01:25while providing Malaysian companies with opportunities to demonstrate their technologies in real operating environments.
01:33MDEC Chairman Ganesh Kumar Banga said Malaysia must embrace AI while ensuring its adoption is responsible and focused on creating
01:41greater value.
01:43AI is a tool, just the same way as a car is a tool.
01:48A car can take you from point A to point B very quickly,
01:52but the same car driven at 200 kilometres an hour can cause an accident and can even kill lives.
01:58The same is AI.
02:00Just because there is a danger in using AI too fast doesn't mean we do not adopt AI.
02:05So we still need to adopt AI, but just be careful as and when we adopt it.
02:11AI can actually improve productivity of humans.
02:14It will not replace the judgment that humans can make.
02:18So we should adopt AI, but bring ourselves to a higher value chain.
02:23The discussion continued at a fireside chat titled,
02:27What Malaysia Builds Next?
02:28Conducted by the MDEC Chairman and AI Technologist and Sosa Research Founder, Jason Sosa.
02:34The discussion looked at how AI could reshape the way businesses operate,
02:39with Sosa pointing to the limitations of traditional corporate structures as companies adopt AI.
02:45It's really difficult to make organisations productive and to see an ROI because humans are messy.
02:54We structure corporations in a pyramid for a reason.
02:57It's because we can only maintain about 150 relationships as a person.
03:02So we have these layers of hierarchy, right?
03:05And that's how we are able to maintain it.
03:07That's why one person with an AI agent or an army of AI agents and a laptop can run circles
03:15around a large company.
03:16So what I would say is it's not a technology problem.
03:20The last thing you want to do is do add AI on top.
03:24Beyond the discussions, MDEC also highlighted the growing pipeline of digital investments into the country.
03:30It said 119 companies were approved for Malaysia digital status in the second quarter of this year,
03:37with projected investments of 133.6 billion ringgit and 4,922 jobs over their first five years.
03:45Twelve companies were also recognised with Malaysia digital status at the Forum,
03:51spanning sectors including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, financial technology and creative media technology.
03:59MDEC Chief Executive Officer Anuar Fariz Fadzil said the organisation's focus was not only on bringing investments into Malaysia,
04:07but also ensuring businesses, talent and the wider economy can benefit from them.
04:13We are hoping that what MDEC does in Malaysia, our role in the digital value chain,
04:19will help to bring more investments in, support companies that establish and grow here,
04:24connect Malaysian technologies and companies, and markets and strengthen the talent pipeline.
04:29And access to AI is not just required soon.
04:33It will be as important as electricity, water and Wi-Fi in a new house.
04:40That is why it is very important that we also work together to see how we can democratise the use
04:47of AI
04:48and how we work together for it.
04:51MDEC said it would continue working with state governments, investors and industry players
04:56to strengthen Malaysia's digital ecosystem
04:59and ensure more businesses can participate in the country's growing AI economy.
05:10MDEC said it would continue for global success in Malaysia.
05:14MDEC said it'd also be Nasıl simple as a survey operator R
