National Cloud Policy will boost public services sector’s efficiency, says PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Adoption of the National Cloud Policy in public services will boost the sector’s efficiency, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the policy would also enhance the government sector’s innovation, especially when paired with salary adjustments.
“We aim to modernise government operations, foster citizen engagement, and streamline the delivery of public services.
As such, he said the government decided to make a major departure from the salary scheme to ensure that the public sector remains efficient.
(Salary adjustment for civil servants was last done 12 years ago. The new pay rise will be implemented in two phases, starting from Dec 1, and from Jan 1, 2026.)
“More importantly is that the level of efficiency must also increase exponentially to enhance capabilities,” he said during Mantap Malaysia Bersama AI, organised by Google Malaysia, yesterday.
Anwar said the government seeks to promote economic competitiveness and growth by enabling businesses, including SMEs and startups, to harness cloud technology for innovation and to access global markets.
The government will also be committed to strengthening user trust and data security by establishing robust security frameworks and protocols to protect sensitive data and critical infrastructure in both public and private cloud environments, he said.
“We will empower citizens through digital inclusivity. Our approach will be citizen-centric and inclusive, utilising cloud technology to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of digital-first public services,” he added.
Working together: Anwar with Sime Darby Property chairman Datuk Rizal Rickman Ramli (left), Loke (fourth from left), Gobind (fifth from left), Alphabet and Google president and chief investment officer Ruth Porat (fifth from right), Tengku Zafrul (fourth from right), Amirudin (third from right) and others at the Mantap Malaysia Bersama AI event in Kuala Lumpur. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
He said the Digital Ministry has been tasked to spearhead Malaysia’s comprehensive digital transformation initiatives.
Anwar said the government aimed to achieve several key outcomes, including to complete the AI Technology Action Plan (2026 to 2030) and the establishment of a regulatory framework to increase adoption of ethical and sustainable AI.
Also present at the event were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
The event was also to mark the ground breaking ceremony of Google’s data centre and cloud infrastructure in Malaysia.
Tengku Zafrul, in his speech, said that Google’s data centres will play a crucial role in enabling the government’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030 – which aims to create 3,000 smart factories.
“Data centres are critical enablers for Malaysia’s ambition to become a regional leader in cloud computing and AI.
“Regionally, the demand for data processing and storage solutions is increasing exponentially. Malaysia is well-positioned to meet this demand, thanks to the robust digital infrastructure we are building, which includes data centres,” he said.
The data centre under construction in Sime Darby’s Elmina Business Park, Selangor, will address the increasing demand for Google Cloud capabilities, AI innovations, and other digital services.
Google’s investment is expected to generate over US$3.2bil (RM13.18bil) in economic impact and create 26,500 jobs by 2030.
Sime Darby Property group managing director Datuk Seri Azmir Merican said the company is proud to partner with Google in establishing their first hyperscale data centre in Malaysia.
“This project marks our strategic entry into a new economy asset class, partnering with one of the world’s foremost tech giants.
“With this project, we are able to propel Elmina Business Park into a premier destination for global tech firms,” he said.
Gamuda Bhd was featured at the event for their extensive integration of Google Cloud’s AI-powered solutions into their proprietary digital construction tools as well as the Gamuda AI Academy being part of their long-standing partnership with Google.
