Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence has been prioritised for the adoption of an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework, reflecting the scale of its procurement activities and the need for stronger transparency and accountability. The initiative, supported by digitalisation efforts led by the Digital Ministry and the National Digital Department, aims to enhance governance, reduce risks of leakages and align public sector practices with sustainable and responsible standards.

Indonesia is seeking to develop independently built “sovereign AI” through its AI Talent Factory programme, aiming to create artificial intelligence models that reflect national values and priorities. The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s AI ecosystem and reduce reliance on foreign technologies.

PLDT says artificial intelligence is critical to accelerating the Philippines’ economic growth, with the potential to add up to 12 per cent to GDP by 2030. The telco emphasised that realising AI’s impact depends on strong infrastructure, world-class talent, and trusted governance to deliver measurable economic and social outcomes.

Johor Bahru has been named Malaysia’s first “leading smart city”, powered by an AI-driven integrated operations control centre that monitors traffic, detects potholes, and supports city management in real time. However, analysts and residents question whether technology adoption is translating into meaningful improvements on the ground.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has warned that artificial intelligence will “touch everything,” urging the Philippines to strengthen its policy and regulatory preparedness. Speaking on the BBM Podcast, he noted that AI is rapidly expanding across education, infrastructure, and energy, creating both major opportunities and risks. Marcos said lawmakers must better understand emerging technologies to craft responsive legislation, especially as AI heightens concerns around job displacement, misinformation, and fabricated content. He emphasized that the country must balance innovation with safeguards and revealed that AI will be a key agenda item at the upcoming ASEAN Summit.

Malaysia’s tech sector continued its strong momentum in 2025, driven by rapid adoption of AI and a booming wave of data centre investments. Penang and Johor strengthened their positions as key technology hubs, attracting multinational firms in semiconductors and cloud infrastructure. Supported by MyDIGITAL initiatives, tax incentives, and new trade agreements such as DEFA and the US-Malaysia ART, the country saw record AI and data centre investment flows in the first half of 2025. With major commitments from global players like Microsoft, Google, Nvidia, and AWS, Malaysia is positioning itself as Southeast Asia’s next digital and AI powerhouse heading into 2026.

Vietnam’s National Assembly has passed an amended High Technology Law aimed at accelerating the country’s innovation and strategic technology development. Approved with 92.39% support, the revised law outlines stronger incentives for high-tech investment, digital and green transformation, R&D commercialization, and collaboration between academia and industry. It also establishes preferential policies to attract global talent and defines clear prohibitions to safeguard national interests. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

The Philippines is strengthening its position in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity through deeper cooperation with key international partners, as envoys from Japan, Canada, Australia, the United States and the European Union reiterated their support at the Stratbase ADR Institute 2025 Pilipinas Conference. Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya highlighted the growing scale of global cyberattacks and underscored Japan’s commitment to helping enhance Philippine cyber capabilities through shared resources and closer coordination across the Indo Pacific. United States Embassy officials noted active collaboration with Philippine agencies on cybercrime operations and policy development, while also exploring technologies that reduce dependency on single suppliers. The European Union expressed interest in expanding cooperation on artificial intelligence, cyber readiness and maritime security, with discussions expected to progress during the upcoming Philippine EU Security and Defence Dialogue. Australia likewise confirmed the expansion of joint cybersecurity efforts with Philippine institutions.

Bank of Singapore is stepping up its push for scale, with CEO Jason Moo outlining plans to accelerate hiring and deepen investment in technology as the bank targets a top-five position among Asia’s private banks within the next three to five years. The bank’s assets under management have surged nearly 20% to more than US$145 billion in Q3, up from about US$120 billion when Moo took over in early 2023, despite raising its minimum account size from US$3 million to US$5 million. Asia’s continued rise in high-net-worth wealth — up 4.8% in 2024 — underpins the expansion opportunity. Relationship manager headcount has already grown from 400 to 500, and Moo expects another aggressive hiring phase in 2026. The bank is also preparing more customised offerings for ultra-wealthy clients holding US$100 million or more, strengthening its positioning in the region’s fast-growing wealth management market.

Vietnam’s Draft Cybersecurity Law 2025 introduces a major governance shift by requiring leaders of agencies, organisations, and enterprises to obtain a cybersecurity management certificate. This new mandate reflects the government’s belief that digital resilience starts at the executive level, not just within IT departments. Experts at a November 24 roundtable emphasised that the requirement is not a technical certification but a governance-focused credential designed to strengthen leadership’s role in protecting digital infrastructure and personal data. Officials warned that persistent vulnerabilities across government, banking, energy, and industrial sectors continue to expose the country to cyberattacks. With criminal liability on the table for negligent leaders—especially those overseeing critical or state-owned systems—the law signals Vietnam’s intention to enforce stronger accountability and embed cybersecurity into national and corporate decision-making.

Vietnam is accelerating its push for cybersecurity autonomy as digitalisation deepens across government, finance, energy, and telecommunications. With rising ransomware attacks, data theft, and state-linked intrusions targeting critical systems, the country sees self-reliance in cybersecurity as essential to protecting national infrastructure and digital sovereignty. New regulations, including the 2025 Cybersecurity Law, prioritise “Make in Vietnam” technologies, expand investment in cyber operations, and mandate higher competency standards for cybersecurity leadership. Alongside technological development, Vietnam is strengthening public awareness and international cooperation to build a resilient, sovereign digital future.

Scam and fraud claims against Singapore’s digital banks have surged, with 94 cases lodged in the first eight months of 2025 — more than double the total for 2024. Most cases involved compromised credentials and impersonation scams, with losses hitting $2.5 million. While the claims remain a small share of overall financial disputes, the proportion is rising quickly. Digital banks are responding with real-time monitoring, anti-scam prompts, and “speed bump” safeguards, even as regulators tighten sector-wide protections.

Malaysia’s biggest palm oil companies are reinventing themselves as surprising players in the AI era, converting vast plantation land into sites for data centres and large-scale solar farms. With more than US$34 billion already flowing into Malaysia’s fast-growing data-centre market, palm oil giants such as SD Guthrie, KLK and IOI see an opportunity to supply both land and renewable power. But while the shift could boost profits and support Malaysia’s digital ambitions, critics warn it does little to address the industry’s longstanding environmental problems.

Singapore’s compact size gives it a strategic advantage in rapidly building an AI-ready workforce, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025. With a smaller population, Singapore can more efficiently roll out nationwide AI literacy and upskilling initiatives. Gan outlined a three-tier approach to AI development: ensuring baseline AI understanding for all companies and consumers, enabling businesses to integrate AI into their operations, and advancing cutting-edge AI technologies. He emphasised that both employers and employees must treat training as a long-term investment, as jobs continue to evolve with technological change. Keeping skills relevant, he noted, is essential for Singapore to stay competitive in the global AI race.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is calling for stronger public–private collaboration to enforce the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Law, stressing that public trust is now a crucial “digital currency.” Deputy Minister Nezar Patria warned that millions of data breaches in 2023 — most involving theft of personal information — threaten the nation’s rapidly growing digital economy. At a seminar in Jakarta, officials highlighted the need for joint enforcement, privacy-by-design practices, and stronger oversight to ensure innovation advances securely. Through initiatives like the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub, the government aims to unite enterprises, startups, academics, and regulators to build a trusted and competitive digital ecosystem.