Malaysia leads ASEAN trade ministers in discussions to address President Trump’s import tariff policy, affirming no retaliatory measures will be taken. The meeting concluded with an 8-point joint statement and the establishment of a special task force, the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force.

Several Malaysian and Chinese technology companies and educational institutions will join forces in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and next-generation digital infrastructure.

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and Bank of Thailand (BOT) have on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen joint efforts in cybersecurity and digital fraud protection.

The Philippines called for the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) during the United Nations Arria-Formula meeting, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to international law, particularly in military applications.

Malaysia is rapidly emerging as a key front in a global computing arms race, as Western and Chinese technology giants rush to build data centres to power their evolving artificial intelligence models.

Laos and Vietnam have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen their collaboration in technology and innovation, aiming to maximise the potential of their human resources.

US technology giant Qualcomm on Wednesday (Apr 2) announced its acquisition of MovianAI, a generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) subsidiary of Vietnam’s private conglomerate Vingroup, for an undisclosed amount.

As the 2025 General Election approaches, the risk of digital interference – whether subtle or overt – is once again under scrutiny. 

Political parties here said they have stepped up efforts to secure their data and digital infrastructure, while tech platforms have moved to act more decisively against falsehoods and manipulated content. The Government has also signalled its intent to be vigilant against electoral misinformation.

The recent cyber attack on Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), where hackers allegedly demanded a US$10 million (RM44.37 million) ransom, was not just an attack on a corporation — it was an attack on Malaysia’s national security.

This incident is a stark reminder that in today’s world, wars are no longer fought solely with missiles and tanks, but with algorithms and malware. At the same time, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has raised concerns over the need to strengthen cyber, drone, and nuclear warfare capabilities, including discussions on forming a dedicated cyber force. This is a step in the right direction.

Cybersecurity activities targeting government websites have increased following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, an official of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed yesterday.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy said the attacks related to Duterte’s arrest can be traced mostly to local hackers, many of whom are attempting to deface government websites.

JAKARTA: The Indonesian government will develop a super application integrating all online services provided by ministries and state agencies, and require every family to have a bank account for timely distribution of social assistance, said Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, chairman of the National Economic Council.

President Prabowo Subianto is set to launch the GovTech (Government Technology) super app during the country’s Independence Day celebrations on Aug 17 this year, Luhut said on Wednesday (Mar 19), reported news outlet Jakarta Globe.

Thailand has approved 90.9 billion baht ($2.7 billion) worth of investments in data centres and cloud services, its investment board said on Monday, the latest additions to the country's expanding tech sector.

The projects include data centres from China’s Beijing Haoyang Cloud&Data Technology, Singapore-based Empyrion Digital, and Thai company, GSA Data Center 02, it said.

Digital transformation has unlocked significant opportunities for Philippine organizations to enhance customer experiences, optimize operations, and boost revenue growth. However, this progress also brings substantial cybersecurity risks.

A recent report by the ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP), titled Cybersecurity in the Philippines, in partnership with Fortinet, highlights these concerns. Among surveyed Philippine organizations, 45% identified cybersecurity and privacy concerns as top challenges associated with their digital transformation efforts.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized the importance of developing local talent in blockchain technology so that investments in the sector can benefit Malaysians.

In a Facebook post, he said Malaysia has great potential in that field.

The country can also leverage blockchain technology in various sectors, including the government services sector, the halal industry, and it's not limited to the financial and digital asset sectors alone.