05/02/2025

BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | FEB 5, 2025

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Malaysia remains committed to being an open economy: Minister KUALA LUMPUR: The government has reaffirmed its commitment to maintain Malaysia as an open economy that relies on international trade and is taking strategic steps to reconcile the country’s interests with policy changes implemented by the new admi nistration in the United States. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia will capitalise on opportunities for strengthening relations and cooperation with the US. He noted that the US administration’s “America First” foreign policy has the potential to change the country’s approach to foreign relations and thus indirectly impact Malaysia. “As a nation whose economy relies heavily on trade, we will certainly feel the effects either directly or indirectly. However, we are carefully monitoring the situation, and reports will be presented to the Cabinet from time to time,” he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) who inquired about how Malaysia, as the chair of Asean, would reconcile the bloc’s relations with BRICS given the economic threat against the latter from newly elected President Donald Trump’s administration. Mohamad pointed out that Malaysia’s foreign policy supports the principles of multilateralism that enable the nation and the international community to address increasingly urgent global challenges. According to him, Malaysia remains committed to forging cooperation with other countries, which has enabled Malaysia to become a BRICS partner country. Existing BRICS member countries will also assess the extent of Malaysia’s commitment before fully accepting it as a member of the bloc, he said. Mohamad said intra-Asean trade accounts for less than 25% of total trade although the region has a population of nearly 700 million. “This is one of Asean’s strengths, and that’s why we have seen various initiatives, including how we can form joint development areas (JDA). “For example, Malaysia and Thailand already have a JDA. Similarly, with Singapore, we have agreed to establish the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, which will further boost the economies of both countries,” he said. Various other initiatives have also been introduced, the minister said. “We want to ensure that intra-Asean trade surpasses RM3 trillion by 2030,” he added. – Bernama

Gobind (centre) and other dignitaries at the launch of Future Connected: 5G Advanced yesterday.

NAIO ramps up integration of AI into various sectors

over data security and compliance, Malaysia sees this as an opportunity to enhance its position as a regional data hub. We are currently studying how the country can leverage new technological advancements while maintaining regulatory standards,” he added. The minister said the rise of AI and next generation connectivity is expected to benefit Malaysia’s SMEs and MSMEs, which form a critical part of the economy. “With 5G Advance, small businesses can leverage AI-driven tools to enhance productivity, improve customer experiences, and optimise logistics. This initiative aligns with the government’s vision to drive digital inclusivity and economic growth through technology.” As digital infrastructure rapidly evolves, Gobind said, Malaysia is focused on ensuring that its policies and regulations support emerging innovations. “The Digital and Communications ministries are working closely with stakeholders to ensure AI and 5G Advance integration align with industry needs and global standards. This proactive approach aims to position Malaysia as a leader in digital transformation within Southeast Asia.” With 5G Advance, AI-powered solutions, and digital policy reforms, he added, Malaysia is set to accelerate its transition into a high tech economy. “These initiatives will strengthen connectivity, improve industrial efficiency, and drive economic competitiveness, solidifying the nation’s role as a hub for technological innovation in the region,” said Gobind.

o Ministries setting up ‘centres of excellence’ to identify challenges and implement artificial intelligence-driven solutions

Ű BY AIMIE SHAZRIE sunbiz@thesundaily.com

At the event, Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), in partnership with Ericsson, introduced 5G Advance, a next-generation connectivity technology that integrates ultra-low latency and AI, marking a significant step in the country’s digital transformation. “This advancement is expected to accelerate automation, enhance efficiency, and provide real-time AI-driven solutions for various industries, including transport, healthcare, agriculture, and small businesses,” said Gobind. He noted that, unlike conventional 5G systems relying on manual configurations and expert feedback, 5G Advance leverages AI to analyse industry-specific needs auto nomously. “This allows businesses to implement tailored, intelligent network solutions more quickly, reducing setup time and improving overall connectivity. As industries evolve, AI will continuously optimise network perfor mance to ensure seamless scalability.” Gobind said another key area under government scrutiny is the potential impact of DeepSeek technology, an innovative and cost-effective solution for data management and energy efficiency. “While some nations have raised concerns

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s newly formed National AI Office (NAIO) is ramping up efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into transport, healthcare, agriculture, small and medium enterprises, and government digital services. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said ministries overseeing these sectors are establishing “centres of excellence”, led by government officials, to identify challenges and implement AI-driven solutions. “This structured approach is expected to streamline AI adoption and innovation across critical industries.” He disclosed that the government is reviewing its GovTech Policy, which was originally introduced in March 2020. “Given the rapid advancements in AI and emerging technologies, policymakers are working to update the framework to ensure it remains relevant and effective. The review is expected to be completed within the next two to three weeks, with a targeted relaunch in Q1 2025,” Gobind told reporters at the launch of Future Connected: 5G Advance at The Exchange 106 yesterday.

Isuzu maintains status as Malaysia’s most popular truck brand PETALING JAYA: Isuzu has once again emerged as Malaysia’s top-selling truck brand for 2024 as the company achieved another year of stable sales performance amid evolving market conditions. global distribution, Isuzu has always been steadfast in our commitment to offering the best-in-quality commercial vehicles and after sales support that our customers need for optimised efficiency and sustainability of their business,“ he said. enhance delivery responsiveness and efficiency, improve customer experience and support the push for decarbonisation for our customers. “In essence, we are unswerving in helping our customers increase their competitive edge in today’s transformative logistics industry by introducing new trucks which deliver better efficiency and cleaner emission,“ he said.

This feat places Isuzu at the number one spot for light-duty truck segments, successfully leading the brand to become the most popular overall truck brand in the market for 11 consecutive years. In the light-duty segment, Isuzu has been leading for 15 consecutive years. Isuzu Malaysia CEO Shunsuke Okazoe said achieving the market-leader position in Malaysia for light-duty truck segments and being the most popular overall truck brand is a solid testament to the deep trust and confidence customers have continuously shown in Isuzu commercial vehicles. “As a leading Japanese truck maker with

Shunsuke said the global trucking industry has been facing unprecedented challenges in recent years. He added that the industry continues to evolve and thrive in Malaysia, driven by various economic and environmental factors. These factors have given rise to several trends, such as regulatory changes and technology’s growing application for better efficiency and cleaner emissions. “Due to this, the nature of our customers’ business is also changing as new demands grow. “At Isuzu, our goal is to constantly innovate and offer the best transport solutions that will

Okazoe said Isuzu remains committed to staying ahead of the competition through its vision, strategy and execution by working closely with all stakeholders. “We believe that better transport leads to a better life. With a vision to become a global innovation leader and lead the way in bringing positive changes to transport solutions, we would like to reaffirm our continuous commitment to customers, partners and industry and to create a profound impact on Malaysia’s logistics value chain,“ Okazoe said.

Mohamad gestures as he speaks during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC