Malaysia’s ambition to become a regional leader in artificial intelligence took another major step forward as Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with NVIDIA Corporation Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang and YTL Power International Berhad Managing Director Dato’ Seri Yeoh Seok Hong during the APEC Leaders Economic Summit 2025 in Gyeongju, South Korea.
The high-level meeting, also attended by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, highlighted Malaysia’s impressive progress in developing its Sovereign AI ecosystem over the past two years.
Malaysia’s Rapid Progress in Sovereign AI
It has been just 22 months since Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Jensen Huang first met in Kuala Lumpur in December 2023 to discuss Malaysia’s AI roadmap. Since then, the country has made tremendous advancements in realizing its goal of becoming an AI-driven nation.
Key initiatives include the launch of the National AI Office under the Digital Ministry and the establishment of Malaysia’s first Sovereign AI Cloud to strengthen national data security and AI independence. Additionally, Malaysia has rolled out nationwide programs to drive AI adoption across both the public and private sectors, along with upskilling initiatives to prepare the local workforce for the AI era.
In August 2025, Malaysia unveiled ILMU, its first large language model, during the ASEAN AI Summit — another pivotal achievement that reinforces the nation’s commitment to homegrown AI innovation.
The YTL Power–NVIDIA Milestone in Johor
A major highlight of the APEC meeting was the discussion of YTL Power International’s newly completed AI data center facility, developed in partnership with NVIDIA. Located at the 600MW YTL Green Data Center Park in Kulai, Johor, this world-class facility is powered by liquid-cooled NVL72 Grace Blackwell (GB200) GPUs — the same next-generation processors driving the world’s most powerful AI systems.
This partnership between YTL Power International and NVIDIA marks a defining moment in Malaysia’s AI journey. Together with the ILMU large language model, the YTL AI Cloud represents a major leap forward in realizing Malaysia’s vision of a self-reliant, secure, and sovereign AI infrastructure.
Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Vision for AI Leadership
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim reiterated the government’s strong support for Malaysia’s AI ambitions.
“Malaysia aims to become a leading AI nation by 2030 — leveraging artificial intelligence to boost productivity, enhance public services, and create a sustainable, inclusive, and ethical digital economy,” said Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Establishing our own Sovereign AI is crucial in building a trusted and secure digital ecosystem. I congratulate YTL Power International and NVIDIA on this important milestone, which will accelerate the nation’s AI progress for the benefit of all Malaysians.”
Strong Government Commitment to AI Advancement
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz emphasized that the Malaysian Government has allocated RM5.9 billion in the 2026 national budget to strengthen the artificial intelligence sector.
“This investment demonstrates Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to becoming a regional hub for AI innovation and data center excellence,” said Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
“Through the National Industrial Master Plan, we are accelerating AI integration across manufacturing and related industries — driving productivity, competitiveness, and global relevance.”
YTL Power’s Contribution to Malaysia’s Digital Sovereignty
Dato’ Seri Yeoh Seok Hong underscored the growing importance of developing sovereign AI clouds to host national and citizen-facing services.
“With the YTL AI Cloud now operational and the successful launch of ILMU, Malaysia will be among the first in the region to achieve true Sovereign AI capabilities,” said Dato’ Seri Yeoh Seok Hong.
“We appreciate the Malaysian Government’s foresight in crafting policy frameworks that enable rapid AI infrastructure advancement.”
Building a Smarter, Independent Malaysia
The rapid progress in Malaysia’s AI landscape is the result of cohesive efforts between the government, private sector, and international technology partners. With the launch of ILMU, the establishment of the YTL AI Cloud, and strong policy support, Malaysia is poised to become one of Southeast Asia’s foremost AI leaders.
As artificial intelligence continues to redefine the global economy, Malaysia’s proactive approach ensures the country is not just an adopter but also a creator of AI technologies.
Through strategic partnerships with global innovators like NVIDIA and strong local champions like YTL Power International, Malaysia is building a smarter, more inclusive, and self-reliant digital future — one powered by innovation, collaboration, and the shared vision of national progress.
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