On August 20, 2025, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced in Parliament that Malaysia’s forthcoming National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan will prioritize transparency, privacy safeguards, security, and human oversight. He explained that under the new initiative, every AI system will be designed to allow audits, ensuring clear accountability in the event of misuse or breaches.
Gobind emphasized that personal data protection must be integrated from the very beginning of the design process. He stressed that data privacy cannot be an afterthought—rather, it must be embedded thoughtfully into the algorithms, applications, and overall architecture of AI systems.
Central to the plan is the concept of “human in the loop,” underscoring that AI should not be granted unchecked power. This approach aims to mitigate the risk of technical errors, inherent biases, and ethical missteps that can arise if AI systems operate autonomously without human supervision.
The minister’s comments were issued in response to an inquiry by Sri Aman MP Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi, who raised concerns about the ethical implications of AI development, particularly regarding privacy rights and digital security standards.
In addition to these measures, Gobind revealed that the government is drafting a broader “Digital Trust and Data Safety Strategy” covering the years 2026 to 2030. As part of efforts to bolster oversight and maintain swift accountability, the plan includes the creation of two new institutions: a National AI Office and a statutory Data Commission. The latter is intended to function as an independent review body for technologies like facial recognition—similar in role to existing authorities in Singapore, the UK, and Canada. While the current Personal Data Protection Department handles personal data issues, this new commission will ensure broader compliance with AI and data governance norms.
