Malaysia gesa Selatan Global main peranan lebih besar berkaitan AI

Malaysia has urged greater involvement from Southeast Asian nations in global discussions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamad Hasan, has stated. AI is transforming economies, societies, and decision-making processes, while a few private entities now control how billions communicate, work, transact, and utilize information.

He emphasized that the technology must serve humanity, not the other way around, warning that a few companies or countries should not be allowed to set rules for others. Southeast Asia cannot merely be a destination for data centers with decisions made elsewhere; we must become partners in innovation, not just customers and markets, or mere investment destinations, he added during a statement to the UN General Assembly's 81st session.

The key point is that responsible decision-making and development also mean managing the massive demand for technology infrastructure, including water, energy, land, and other resources. This is necessary to ensure the benefits of AI can be shared more widely across borders. The call comes as the UN pushes for efforts to build a global approach to managing AI, with the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance convened in Geneva last July.

The initiative aims to provide an inclusive platform for countries to discuss the opportunities and risks posed by AI. The issue is particularly relevant for Malaysia, which positions itself as a regional hub for data centers and AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, internal conflicts in Southeast Asia are intensifying, and Malaysia urges its involved parties to maintain calm and not undermine security.

It also warns that disrupting the Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandab Straits, critical routes for global energy and trade, could have severe consequences for the region. Southeast Asia is not directly involved in the current standoff, but the family is still bearing the consequences as food, fuel, and living costs rise. Ultimately, powerful actors like Malaysia, together with regional hubs like ASEAN, can help maintain a dialogue space when major powers fail to reach an agreement.

Malaysia insists that we must have the confidence to speak up for our region, rather than allowing others to speak on our behalf.