Malaysia pushes AI governance bill into early 2025

Malaysia's efforts to establish a comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence have been postponed, with government officials signalling the bill will now be introduced in early 2025.

Minister Gobind Singh Deo confirmed the delay on Tuesday, noting that the proposed legislation, originally scheduled for presentation to parliament this year, requires additional preparation time.

The forthcoming bill will adopt a risk-based approach to AI regulation, a methodology that prioritises oversight of high-risk applications while allowing lower-risk uses to operate with lighter regulatory requirements. This tiered approach aligns with international governance models and seeks to balance innovation with consumer protection.

The delay extends Malaysia's timeline for establishing formal AI governance rules as regional economies increasingly grapple with regulatory frameworks for the rapidly evolving technology. Industry stakeholders and policymakers have emphasised the importance of timely legislation to ensure the country remains competitive while safeguarding public interests.

The government has not provided a specific timeline for the bill's introduction beyond the early 2025 target window.