Malaysia is targeting artificial intelligence development to add 0.8 to 1.2 percentage points to annual gross domestic product growth, equivalent to about RM13 billion to RM20 billion a year, while creating 300,000 to 500,000 new AI-related jobs.
Malaysian Communications Minister Dato’ Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the targets form part of the government’s National AI Action Plan 2026-2030, or AI Nation 2030. He said AI development should focus on applications that generate economic value rather than solely on expanding computing capacity and digital infrastructure.
“What matters is not merely having digital infrastructure, but how we make Malaysia a place for the development, deployment and use of AI,” Fahmi said at WAIC Connect Malaysia 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.
He said AI could be deployed to improve productivity in the semiconductor and electronics industries, manufacturing, logistics and supply chains, as well as support healthcare, agriculture and public services. The development of the technology should also take sustainability and employment opportunities for younger generations into account, he said.
Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd aims to train 30,000 AI professionals in Malaysia and develop 200 local AI partners over the next three years. The programs will include skills development, knowledge transfer and cooperation in cloud computing and AI.
Huawei Asia Pacific Region President Terry He said the company would focus on developing digital infrastructure with local partners, expanding AI adoption across industries and building an innovation ecosystem. Target sectors include telecommunications, public services, finance, healthcare, education and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Huawei also plans to support Malaysian partners, developers and startups, as well as initiatives related to AI skills, cybersecurity and responsible AI. The company aims to support the development of AI solutions in Malaysia for deployment across ASEAN and other international markets.
Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing said Chinese technology companies were increasing investment in Malaysia’s AI and data center infrastructure. Universities in the two countries are also expanding cooperation in AI and engineering.
Ouyang said China exported more than 10,000 intelligent bionic robots to more than 90 countries and regions in the first half of 2026. He said investment and technology cooperation could expand AI’s role in economic ties between China and Malaysia.
WAIC Connect Malaysia 2026 was held on Sept. 7-8 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre as an extension of China’s World Artificial Intelligence Conference. The event brought together AI companies, businesses and ecosystem partners from China, Malaysia and other ASEAN markets.
Organizers said the event drew more than 80 ecosystem partners and 1,000 industry participants from across the Asia-Pacific region. The conference exhibition featured more than 40 AI solutions and product demonstrations.
Malaysia’s AI development is shifting from building infrastructure toward deploying the technology across industry, government and public services. The government has identified economic impact, job creation and sustainable infrastructure as elements of its AI development goals through 2030.
