MALAYSIA Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz made a compelling call for “sovereign AI collaboration” as a means to strengthen regional partnerships and avoid being drawn into the binary rivalries of global technology powerhouses.
Opening the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Forum’s Fireside Chat session today, under the session theme ‘The Intelligence Grid: Building Bridges Through Sovereign AI Collaboration’, Tengku Zafrul described artificial intelligence as no longer merely a tool, but “the next great enabler of economic competitiveness, national resilience, and even geopolitical influence.”
“In many ways, AI has already disrupted how we work, search for or present information—even how we live, interact and entertain among ourselves,” he said. “I would imagine that sometime in the future, the success of individuals, companies and nations could be measured by how effectively they deploy and use AI.”
However, he also cautioned against overlooking the risks: “We cannot, for example, easily dismiss the possibility of AI aggravating increased polarisation, xenophobia, racism or propensity for war.”
Rather than approach AI development through the lens of technological confrontation, Tengku Zafrul advocated for an inclusive framework driven by middle powers.
“In a world often framed by binary rivalries, this session is choosing to take an alternative path,” he said. “What we hope to explore today is how middle powers — like those in ASEAN and the Gulf — can shape a new model of sovereign AI collaboration: one that respects sovereign interests, while promoting shared development, mutual trust, and inclusive progress.”
The session featured a distinguished panel comprising Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Mr Peng Xiao, Group CEO of UAE-based AI firm G42.
“We are most fortunate to have our conversations today informed as well as guided by some of the most influential voices, none of whom needs much by way of introduction,” Tengku Zafrul said. “They are our very own YAB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim—whose name’s acronym is, interestingly, ‘A’ and ‘I’—His Excellency Pham Minh Chinh, and Peng Xiao.”
He thanked the trio for taking time out of their schedules to address what he called one of the defining issues of the modern era.
Tengku Zafrul added his opening by inviting Anwar to share his perspective on how AI partnerships across the region could enhance digital sovereignty for developing nations—while steering clear of becoming ensnared in the geopolitical dynamics of major global technology powers. - May 28, 2025
