By Danial Dzulkifly
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said Malaysia’s upcoming National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan will ensure systems are auditable, privacy-safe, secure, and subject to human oversight.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Gobind said these principles are crucial to ensuring AI development does not harm society.
“Every AI model that is designed must be capable of undergoing an audit process. This audit table must identify who is responsible in the event of misuse or violations of standards.
“Secondly, in terms of ‘privacy by design’ and ‘security by design’, personal data protection must be considered from the outset, during the design of algorithms, systems and AI applications, and not added later as an afterthought.
“Thirdly is human oversight, also referred to as ‘human in the loop’. For now, AI has not been granted absolute authority. Human control must be maintained at certain levels to prevent technical errors, discrimination and bias that could affect society,” he said.
Gobind was responding to Sri Aman MP Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi, who asked about the ethical development of AI in relation to privacy rights and digital security.
The minister also reiterated that the government is preparing a Digital Trust and Data Safety Strategy (2026–2030), alongside the establishment of a National AI Office and a new Data Commission.
These bodies, he said, will serve as oversight mechanisms to address risks quickly and uphold accountability.
When asked by Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari whether the government would consider setting up an independent review board to monitor AI and advanced technologies such as facial recognition, similar to those in Singapore, the United Kingdom and Canada, Gobind said the proposed Data Commission would play that role.
“For now, we have the Personal Data Protection Department that oversees personal data matters. It has the power to take action.
“But this is different from data as a whole. That is why we mentioned the establishment of the commission, to create a statutory body that can enforce compliance with set standards,” he said.
