AI Governance Bill expected in Dewan Rakyat early next year, says Gobind

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has announced that the Malaysian government will introduce an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Bill in the Dewan Rakyat early next year. The proposed legislation will adopt a risk-based approach, where the level of regulation and obligations will depend on the potential harm an AI system could cause. This approach differs from risk classifications based solely on industry.

The government aims to ensure that AI development progresses alongside the country's capacity to manage associated risks. The National AI Action Plan 2026-2030 prioritises responsible, inclusive, and high-impact AI development, with trust and safety as key pillars. The Malaysia AI Safety Institute, under the Digital Ministry, will examine various aspects of AI governance, including safety benchmarks, risk assessments, and incident reporting.

Gobind emphasized that the government does not intend to slow down AI development. Instead, the focus is on strengthening safety mechanisms, testing, monitoring, human oversight, and response mechanisms for rapidly advancing AI systems. These systems, which may be increasingly autonomous and capable of significantly affecting people or critical systems, require stronger safeguards before their use is expanded.