Gobind Singh Deo said the government is currently in the final stages of drafting Malaysia’s first AI Governance Bill, a comprehensive legislative framework aimed at addressing artificial intelligence risks in a comprehensive and responsible manner.
The digital minister said the bill, developed through the National Artificial Intelligence Agency (Naio), will adopt a risk-based regulatory model and cover areas such as AI-related hazards, incident reporting and ethical principles to guide safe deployment in all sectors.
“The AI Governance Bill is designed to address risks in a comprehensive manner and establish responsible governance practices for the use of AI across the country,” he said yesterday.
He said that along with new laws, the government is also strengthening existing laws, including amendments to the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), to ensure accountability in automated decision-making and profiling.
The Cybersecurity Act 2024 and the Online Safety Act 2024 will further protect digital infrastructure and curb harmful content online, it added.
Gobind said the National Cyber Security Authority is working out a new cybercrime bill to replace the Computer Crimes Act 1997 and target crimes related to emerging technologies, including deepfakes.
On the technical side, Cybersecurity Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia are developing a national AI-based verification system to authenticate images and videos, said the tool, which is expected to aid cybercrime investigations once completed in the second half of 2026.
He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is working with major social media platforms to detect and remove harmful deepfakes related to race, religion and the monarchy.
He added that MCMC is also considering the need for labeling requirements for AI-generated content, including videos.
Mr Govind said the ministry’s combined legislative, technical and educational efforts aim to build an “innovative but secure” AI ecosystem, aligning Malaysia with international best practices while ensuring public safety and trust.
