KUALA LUMPUR, 28 July 2026 — Malaysia will provide 100,000 youth with free artificial intelligence software subscriptions from Merdeka Day as part of a national drive to build an “AI Nation”, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced.

Speaking at the launch of AI Malaysia on Tuesday (28 July) in Menara Axis Cyberjaya, Anwar said the three-month programme would target Malaysians aged 18 to 30 and was aimed at giving the next generation direct access to AI tools and training.

“We must overcome the fear of change. If we hesitate, we will be left behind. 

“Technology is not just for the elite in the city. It must reach the kampung, the B40, everyone,” Anwar said. 

Participants will first complete modules on the Rakyat Digital platform covering AI Security, Cyber SAFE, Agentic AI, Generative AI, and Cloud Untuk Rakyat. 

Upon completion, they will receive free access to selected AI applications.

The programme will be run by the Digital Ministry under Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

Anwar stressed that the goal was not just skills, but fairness.  

“The democratisation of access to AI must begin now. We cannot allow a new gap to form between the urban and rural, the rich and the poor,” he said.

The Prime Minister also pushed back on stereotypes about who embraces technology.  

“Do not assume that only those in the city are ready and those in rural areas will resist. That is lazy thinking,” Anwar said.

He added that Malaysia must balance innovation with sovereignty and values.  

“We welcome progress, but we must also ask: who controls the data? What happens to our security?” Anwar questioned, referring to concerns over sovereign cloud infrastructure and the US CLOUD Act.

On education, Anwar warned against an overly pragmatic approach.  

“Is education only to produce workers for industry? No. We must produce people who are skilled, but also people with values, with humanity,” he said.

The “AI Nation” initiative is positioned as both a skills programme and a blueprint for inclusive growth, with the government saying AI should serve as a catalyst for national development without eroding Malaysia’s cultural and ethical foundations.

Edited by: R. Muralitharan

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