Malaysia gesa Selatan Global main peranan lebih besar berkaitan AI

Malaysia has urged for greater involvement of Southeast Asian nations in global discussions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), according to Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan. The minister highlighted that AI is transforming economies, societies and governmental decision-making, while a few private entities currently control how billions of people communicate, work, transact and use information.

He emphasized that technology should serve humanity, not the other way around, warning that a few companies or countries should not be allowed to dictate rules for others. Southeast Asia should not merely be a destination for data centers, with decisions about AI made elsewhere. Instead, we must become partners in innovation, not just customers and markets or a mere investment destination, he said while delivering Malaysia's statement at the UN General Assembly's 81st session.

Decisive and responsible action also entails managing the massive demand for technology infrastructure, including water, energy, land, and other resources, to ensure the benefits of AI are widely shared across borders. This concern came as the UN launched efforts to build a global approach to AI governance, with the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance held in Geneva last July.

The initiative aims to provide an inclusive platform for countries to discuss the opportunities and risks posed by AI. Malaysia, which positions itself as a bridge for data centers and AI infrastructure, has also urged conflicting parties in the Western Pacific to remain calm and not aggravate the situation, while warning of potential disruptions to the strategically crucial Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandab, which are vital for global energy and trade flows.

A family in Southeast Asia is not directly involved in this dispute, but they still bear the consequences as food, fuel, and living costs rise. Malaysia, along with regional economic entities like ASEAN, can help maintain a dialogue space when major powers fail to reach an agreement. We must have the confidence to speak up for our region rather than allowing others to speak on our behalf, he stressed.