KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) has urged global players to consider Malaysia as a strategic entry point into Southeast Asia’s rapidly expanding digital economy, pointing to the country’s robust digital infrastructure and expanding innovation ecosystem.
Malaysia offers a conducive platform for collaboration among multinational corporations, local enterprises, academia and research institutions, enabling the co-creation of digital solutions with regional scalability.
MOSTI minister Chang Lih Kang said backed by initiatives such as national artificial intelligence (AI) strategies, smart manufacturing programmes and digital skills development, the country is positioning itself as a key hub for emerging technologies in Southeast Asia.
He added that the newly launched AI World Experience Centre (AIWEC) at i-City in Selangor further strengthens Malaysia’s standing as a regional centre for AI education and public engagement.
Chang noted that the centre could serve as a catalyst for public-private collaboration, facilitate upskilling and reskilling initiatives, and support the growth of a domestic AI industry aligned with national priorities.
AIWEC, a collaboration between China-based robotics company AgiBot and Malaysian property developer I-Berhad, was officially launched on Jan 13 and is Southeast Asia’s first AI and robotics experience centre of its kind.
The centre represents the initial phase of a broader long-term partnership between I-Berhad and AgiBot. The collaboration also includes plans to develop AI Tower residences, envisioned as the world’s first residential concept designed specifically for living alongside AI and robotics, positioning Malaysia on the global stage.
AgiBot selected i-City due to its vision of becoming Malaysia’s first AI ecosystem urban centre, supported by strong technological infrastructure and a proven track record in delivering large-scale developments.
I-Berhad chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong told Business Times he is confident that its strategic partnership with AgiBot will significantly contribute to Malaysia’s ambition to become a regional AI innovation hub through an integrated approach encompassing technology, governance, talent, infrastructure and investment.
Chang, meanwhile, described AIWEC as a working model that can be replicated nationwide.
He added that similar centres could be developed through partnerships with state governments, academia and industry players.
“Through such centres, we can decentralise digital opportunity and ensure that AI literacy reaches not only urban centres but also suburban and rural communities,” Chang said.
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Located in i-City, AIWEC is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia and stands as a strong symbol of Malaysia’s readiness to lead in the era of AI and smart technologies.
Chang added that the launch comes at an opportune time as Malaysia prepares to implement the National Artificial Intelligence Action Plan 2026–2030.
“AI is no longer a distant concept. It is here, shaping our industries, transforming economies, and redefining how we live and learn. Through interactive exhibits, robotic demonstrations, coding zones for children, and AI learning modules, AIWEC embodies the very spirit of the Malaysia MADANI vision: empowering society through knowledge and innovation,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
