Upgrade your membership plan for the full website experience.
View Membership Plans
June 16, 2025

Malaysia Underscores Commitment to Due Diligence in Sovereign AI Efforts

miti-bernama
Miti has clarified that Nvidia and AI chips are not classified as controlled goods under Malaysian law, amid reports that a Chinese firm used such technology for Large Language Model training in Malaysia. — Bernama pic, June 18, 2025 — https://www.scoop.my/news/261104/miti-verifying-reports-of-chinese-firm-using-nvidia-ai-chips-for-llm-training-in-malaysia/
June 16, 2025

On May 21, Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) issued a statement distancing itself from a recently announced, private sector-driven sovereign, full-stack AI ecosystem program utilizing Chinese AI infrastructure and software. The announcement came after increased scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security warning of the risks associated with advanced Chinese chips that may have been produced in violation of U.S. export controls.  

As the Government of Malaysia looks to leverage its robust semiconductor ecosystem, the Strategic AI Infrastructure program was announced on May 19, purportedly becoming the region’s first sovereign, full-stack AI ecosystem and the first deployment of Huawei’s chips and servers outside of China. The Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Communications were reported to be among the early adopters, with the program aiming to deploy 3,000 advanced GPUs by 2026 to form the backbone of the country’s national AI grid of data centers and cloud hubs. 

MITI has underscored its commitment to comply with applicable export control laws and national security directives while retaining sovereignty in developing its AI policies and infrastructure. 

Join the Council to continue reading this article
Enhance your business impact in Southeast Asia: Become a member of the US-ASEAN Business Council and tap into a network of possibilities.
Free Related Articles

Membership Plans

Corporate Council

Corporate membership provides general advocacy support, access to all country- and industry-specific updates, and access to most Council events.

  • Business missions to all 10 ASEAN markets which engage governments at the highest levels.
  • Off-the-record roundtables and policy briefings with senior government leaders in ASEAN and the U.S.
  • On-the-ground support for promoting your positions/policy priorities with policy makers.
  • Industry-specific, country-specific, cross-sector and regional advocacy through committees that target their engagement based on member priorities.
  • Advocacy on your behalf in situations where your company should not be directly identified or is unable to be present.

Chairman’s Council

Corporate membership provides general advocacy support, access to all country- and industry-specific updates, and access to most Council events.

  • All Corporate benefits.
  • Assistance with resolving company-specific trade or investment issues through our six regional offices and U.S.-based staff.
  • Develop effective advocacy strategies to impact policy concerns.
  • Identification of, and engagement with appropriate policy influencers to impact policy concerns.
  • Assistance in conducting follow-up after engaging government leaders (can include providing officials with additional materials, setting up meetings with their staff, getting a readout of the government’s reaction to the discussion).
  • Support for developing arguments that will resonate with target stakeholders.
  • Leading and setting the agenda and policy priorities of the Country and Industry Committees.