KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, today cautioned that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and genetic engineering must be governed in advance to avoid the historical mistake of ‘building first and governing later.’
His Royal Highness noted that the world failed to establish a regulatory framework for the atomic bomb before its detonation and urged the global community not to repeat such an error with the converging technologies of this century.
“They demand governance in advance, not in retrospect. And there is one domain above all where the cost of governing in retrospect may prove irreversible: the health of the planet itself,” he said.
Sultan Nazrin delivered his keynote address at the opening of the 8th Putrajaya Forum 2026, held in conjunction with the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security Asia (NATSEC Asia) exhibitions here today.
His Royal Highness said that while emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, biotechnology and advanced communication provide powerful tools to enhance security, they are also reshaping the global risk landscape.
Sultan Nazrin said AI could be deployed to deter cyber threats in real time by identifying anomalies faster than any human operator, adding that practical analytics can anticipate risks to enable pre-emptive action rather than reactive measures.
He noted that blockchain technology offers enhanced data integrity to ensure transparency and reduce fraud, while advanced surveillance systems and satellite technologies can improve public safety and disaster response.
“But these technologies also carry grave risks. The deployment of AI in military contexts could inadvertently precipitate conflict. Through automation bias, humans could place too much trust in machines, allowing them to make life-or-death decisions that break moral and legal rules,” he said.
His Royal Highness cautioned that errors caused by AI in nuclear systems could have catastrophic consequences. In the digital realm, quantum computing poses a huge threat to online security, while deepfakes have the potential to destabilise society through dangerous distortions of truth.
Sultan Nazrin highlighted that critical infrastructure, including energy grids and financial systems, is increasingly digitised and exposed to risks that could compromise national sovereignty without a single shot being fired.
“Consider the implications: a cyberattack on a regional financial system could disrupt economies across borders within minutes. A coordinated misinformation campaign could erode public trust in institutions. A breach of sensitive data could compromise national sovereignty without a single shot being fired,” he said.
The Sultan of Perak also called for deeper ASEAN cooperation, particularly in developing AI governance frameworks that reflect regional values and ensuring the fair distribution of technological gains.
He said regional collaboration, rather than competition alone, is key to meaningful and sustainable progress.
“True security lies in working together, not in isolation. This means cooperating on AI governance frameworks that reflect our values and protect our people, and ensuring that the wealth generated by technology is distributed with fairness,” said Sultan Nazrin.
Putrajaya Forum 2026 is part of the broader DSA and NATSEC Asia 2026 programmes, widely recognised as among the region’s premier defence and homeland security events, attracting global participation and facilitating dialogue on critical security issues.
Themed ‘ASEAN Security at the Edge of Emerging Technologies’, this year’s forum focuses on how rapid technological advancements are reshaping defence strategies, security frameworks and regional cooperation in an increasingly complex security landscape.
-- BERNAMA
