Malaysia warns AI divide could widen computing gap for Global South

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Malaysia: Global South AI divide

Highlights

Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the rapid development of AI risks widening the computing gap between advanced countries and the Global South without equitable access to resources.
Fahmi stressed that governments must ensure regulatory frameworks keep pace with AI advances to protect businesses, markets and society.
Malaysia is seeking re-election to the ITU Council and aims to use the platform to strengthen cooperation and share its experience in global telecommunications discussions.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Concerns over the computing gap and the need for regulation

As reported by The Edge Malaysia, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the rapid development of AI is raising growing concerns about a "computing gap" as countries race to harness the technology without equitable access to the computing resources it requires.

He said the issue goes beyond the traditional digital divide, which has largely focused on access to the internet and digital services. If many countries, particularly in the Global South, fail to keep pace and there are no mechanisms to address the imbalance, he said, the gap between countries with computing capacity and those without it will continue to widen.

Fahmi made the remarks in an interview on the sidelines of the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 in Doha on Tuesday, 10 Nov. He also said another major challenge for governments is ensuring regulatory frameworks keep pace with the extraordinary speed of technological progress, particularly in AI.

According to Fahmi, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin has also stressed that AI can advance significantly in just one year, underscoring the urgent need for governments to prepare for new risks. He said governments must strike a balance between encouraging technological innovation and putting adequate safeguards in place to protect businesses, markets and the public.

Malaysia's role in global telecommunications discussions

The rise of agentic AI, which enables AI systems to perform tasks and make decisions with greater autonomy, presents major opportunities but also risks that must be addressed through government engagement with industry and the development of appropriate safeguards, Fahmi said.

He added that Malaysia is seeking re-election to the ITU Council to continue contributing its experience and perspectives, particularly from Southeast Asia and the Global South, to international telecommunications discussions. Malaysia, a member of the ITU since 1958, has experience to share in areas such as technical standards, digital trust and interoperability, he said.

Fahmi said participation in the ITU provides an important platform for the country to strengthen cooperation and develop solutions to increasingly complex challenges in the global telecommunications landscape. He also praised the co-hosting of ITU PP-26 with Mobile World Congress Doha 2026 in Qatar for creating opportunities to explore new technologies and connect with telecommunications ministers and regulators from various countries.

The latest update follows our previous article on Malaysia's sovereign AI cloud to protect sensitive government information.

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