Malaysia Accelerates National AI Agenda

Malaysia has intensified its national AI agenda through the new National AI Action Plan 2026–2030. The Action Plan, coordinated by the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO), outlines Malaysia’s ambition to position itself within the top 20 countries in global AI readiness by 2030. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang highlighted expected AI contributions to be over RM60 billion toward GDP, while Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo confirmed that the National AI Action Plan 2026–2030 will be tabled in Parliament by the end of December.  

These developments are being framed within a broader push to build an “AI-ready” economy through the forthcoming National AI Action Plan 2026–2030. Policy documents and official commentary describe 2026 as a pivotal transition year, with the plan expected to focus on technology, governance, talent, infrastructure and digital-trust frameworks. For U.S. firms, this trajectory suggests growing opportunities across cloud infrastructure, enterprise AI solutions, cybersecurity and semiconductor-linked hardware, provided that implementation of the new plan proceeds as signaled in late 2025.  

New data released in early November underscores how quickly AI is diffusing through Malaysian businesses. A nationwide study found that AI adoption grew 35% year-on-year, with about 2.4 million businesses now using AI in some form, equivalent to 27% of all businesses. The report notes that 65% of firms that have adopted AI report higher revenues, averaging a 19% increase, while 72% cite significant productivity gains. At the same time, 52% of respondents identify skills shortages as a key constraint, reinforcing the government’s emphasis on AI-related training and talent development.