KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is accelerating its journey towards digital sovereignty with the development of a National Large Language Model (NLLM) fully based on Bahasa Malaysia, said Deputy Minister of Digital, Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong.
He explained that the initiative aims to equip the country with a reliable, homegrown technology framework that strengthens both digital sovereignty and national data security.
“This project will reduce dependency on foreign companies that currently dominate the provision of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure,” Wilson told the Dewan Negara today in response to Senator Susan Chemerai Anding.
She had asked whether Malaysia intends to create a sovereign large language model in Bahasa Malaysia and how the government plans to prevent dominance by global cloud providers.
Wilson added that collaborations with local institutions, including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and domestic tech players, are already underway to develop the NLLM, which is expected to have a far-reaching impact across government services and society.
He emphasised that data management within the project will strictly adhere to sovereignty guidelines, including stringent controls on data flow and processing location, in accordance with data residency principles.
“The project will also be implemented in line with national sovereignty policies and certification standards, ensuring that technology is applied securely and in a way that reflects local cultural values,” he said.
In line with the National AI Action Plan 2030, Wilson said the government, through the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO), is committed to strengthening a competitive, sovereign AI ecosystem that upholds Malaysia’s digital sovereignty.
