Introduce New Legislation To Enable AI To Operate Independently - PM Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- New legislation has to be introduced to enable artificial intelligence (AI) to operate independently, without having to subject itself to the laws of the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Although national laws protect a country’s sovereignty, new legislation has to be enacted to transform new technologies.

"If you want to accept AI, then you cannot be thinking of sovereignty in the old school form," he said.

The prime minister said this during a panel session at the ASEAN-GCC Economic Forum 2025, titled “The Intelligent Grid: Building Bridges Through Sovereign AI Collaboration” organised by Fortune here, today.

Anwar also noted that although some ASEAN and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have only recently begun substantive engagement with Malaysia, there is already a strong foundation of mutual understanding on critical issues.

“These include governance, international relations, and the adoption of new technologies such as digital transformation and alternative energy.

"When you have leaders having that sort of mindset, promoting new technological advancement and change, it could not have happened if we do not have this basic trust with one another,” he said.

He noted that such trust was instrumental in encouraging broader cooperation, with ASEAN and GCC getting onboard, and persuading China to align on certain positions.

He reiterated that these fundamentals are supported by the fact that ASEAN is relatively one of the most peaceful regions in the world, coupled with its status as the fastest-growing economy, while the GCC countries continue to achieve remarkable progress in renewable energy, digital transformation, and AI adoption.

"There is no point in having all this facade in hosting big international conferences if we cannot persuade the team to come up with very substantive agreement. So let me express my personal satisfaction with the outcome of this cooperation, and to underscore that success depends on collaboration between government, industry, and the business community,” said Anwar. 

Nevertheless, the prime minister also noted that amid shifting global dynamics, the legitimate concerns cannot be dismissed lightly as it deals with human beings that brings values, faith, personality, historical understanding, and national identity. 

He said that the current global political order suffers from a “deficit in values” and urged caution against blindly adopting new technologies without an ethical foundation. 

"We can't avoid AI, but we must ensure it does not strip us of human dignity and justice,” he added.

Anwar also highlighted the importance of education and critical thinking, which are keys to empowering diverse perspectives. Reflecting on the Industrial Revolution, he warned against repeating historical mistakes that led to the dehumanisation of individuals.

“We must support technological and AI innovation while remaining vigilant about the fundamental flaws that it could potentially amplify,” he said.

Concluding on a sombre note, Anwar cited the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a stark reminder that technological advancement has failed to uphold human dignity.

"With all this new technology and AI, we are still failing to answer the basic question: What does it mean to be human?" he added. 

-- BERNAMA