Malaysia plans first AI law for early 2027, digital minister says

Malaysia plans first AI law for early 2027, digital minister says

5 October 2026: Malaysia plans to introduce its first dedicated artificial intelligence law in early 2027, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo told parliament on 5 October. The AI Act will take a "risk-based approach", and the government is building the mechanisms to enforce it, according to Bloomberg's report carried by The Business Times.

Not yet independently verified. We have not seen the parliamentary record or a ministry statement for 5 October. The draft bill text is not public, so scope and penalties are not yet verified. We will update this when it can be confirmed, and remove this note.

The timetable has firmed up over the past month. On 10 September, Gobind told reporters in George Town, as reported by Bernama and The Star, that the AI Governance Bill had been drafted and was being submitted to Cabinet. He hoped it would reach Parliament that quarter, or in the first quarter of 2027 at the latest. The October remarks point to the later of those two windows.

Gobind described a three-step route in September: standards first, then regulations, then laws. Matters that need rules but not legislation can be handled by regulation, which is quicker to change. "The ability to formulate regulations is also important, given that AI technology is developing rapidly," he said. Standards are already being set through the MY-AI Standards under the ministry, in work with SIRIM Berhad.

The ministry's National AI Office held engagement sessions through July to refine the proposed bill, and the draft was finished after workshops with stakeholders. Gobind said the enforcement structure is being set up at the same time as the bill goes to Cabinet, so that governance and enforcement are in place when it passes.

Bloomberg places the bill within a wider push by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government against the risks of AI and social media. In June Malaysia began requiring social media platforms to bar children under 16 from holding accounts and to verify users' ages.

The reports give no scope, definition of high risk, or penalty level. Companies selling AI products into Malaysia can follow the MY-AI Standards work now, since the minister has said standards come before the law.

Sources

• The Business Times (Bloomberg): Malaysia plans first AI law in 2027 as scrutiny intensifies, 5 October 2026
• The Star (Bernama): AI Governance Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament by Q1 2027 at the latest, says Gobind, 10 September 2026