SEIZING AGENTIC AI OPPORTUNITY IN M’SIA

 

Leading companies are moving beyond experimentation as a third of “AI future-built” firms have deployed agentic solutions and are demonstrating measurable value.

MALAYSIA stands at a critical inflection point in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race.

After the surge of generative AI, a new wave is emerging in the form of agentic AI.

Agentic AI are AI execution models involving autonomous agents that coordinate across workflows, tools and systems with minimal human input.

While it stops short of true autonomous decision-making, agentic AI’s ability to make actionable decisions within predefined parameters is a game changer.

Malaysia has a solid foundation to build on.

According to Boston Consultant Group’s AI Maturity Matrix, which benchmarks 73 economies globally on AI exposure and AI readiness, Malaysia is classified as a “steady contender”.

It places the nation just one tier behind AI pioneers such as the United States, the United Kingdom and China.

This position reflects Malaysia’s significant exposure to AI, particularly in large sectors like retail and wholesale, telecommunication and financial services.

At the same time, it indicates a solid level of AI readiness, supported by forward-looking ambitions, policies and regulatory frameworks on AI.

An evolving AI landscape

AI is rapidly becoming a critical national infrastructure that empowers wider opportunities.

As a result, geopolitical shifts, compute access and sovereign capability increasingly determine economic outcomes and geopolitical influence.

The US and China lead the global AI race.

Tech companies from these two superpowers created 59% and 26%, respectively, of top-performing large language models (LLM).

This presents a conundrum for competing nations.

Relying solely on external technology providers poses challenges for corporate leaders and governments, especially since local regulations, data requirements and model availability are subject to shifting policies.

Against this backdrop, a small group of “GenAI middle powers” is emerging across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Each has distinct strengths that might allow it to compete as a regional or global technology supplier.

This race now expands beyond software to encompass hardware, infrastructure and technology adoption.

Malaysia must actively build its domestic AI capabilities to avoid high technology sovereignty risks as it looks to the future of agentic AI.

Execution speed and scale will dictate whether Malaysia leads in Asean or falls behind.

Encouragingly, the Digital Ministry, through the establishment of the National AI Office (NAIO), is driving a coordinated national AI agenda – spanning governance frameworks, cross-sector adoption and ecosystem development.

These efforts lay the critical foundations for more advanced applications, including the next wave of agentic AI.

Productivity multiplier

Globally, the shift is already underway and early signs indicate that the rise of agentic AI will be rapid.

BCG’s Build for the Future 2025 study shows that agentic AI’s share of AI-driven value is expected to nearly double from 17% in 2025 to 29% by 2028.

Leading companies are moving beyond experimentation – one-third of “AI future-built” firms have deployed agentic solutions and are demonstrating measurable value.

Early adopters are already unlocking tangible benefits. BCG’s study shows that while companies are exploring agentic AI across operations, support functions and innovation, customer experience is emerging as the top priority.

Leading use cases include deploying intelligent agents to autonomously handle Level 1 and Level 2 customer support, as well as optimising digital marketing campaigns – continuously adjusting bids to maximise returns, reallocating spend to high-performing channels and testing creatives in real time.

AI undoubtedly represents a powerful productivity multiplier for Malaysia.

It can strengthen key economic sectors such as manufacturing, financial services and many other industries. For SMEs, agentic AI can lower the cost of sophistication, providing access to capabilities once reserved for large enterprises.

Beyond the private sector, agentic AI can modernise public services and improve policy-making decisions and delivery in healthcare, education and justice.

It can help bridge urban-rural divides by expanding access to digital services and decision support.

In a nation balancing growth ambitions with demographic and fiscal constraints, agentic AI is not merely a technology upgrade – it is a lever for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Four strategic priorities

To compete effectively in this next phase of AI, Malaysia must act with clarity and intent across four priorities.

> Build sovereign AI capabilities. Malaysia could strategically build sovereign AI capabilities in areas where it has natural strengths and where risk mitigation matters most.

This includes expanding reliable access to compute, leveraging its growing data centre ecosystem.

A pragmatic and technology-neutral approach that combines global technology partnerships with targeted domestic capability-building will be more effective than pursuing full-stack independence.

Technology partnerships could focus on leveraging leading AI innovations from both Western and Eastern ecosystems in a neutral manner.

Open-source AI models offer a practical pathway to reduce dependency risks, accelerate adoption and support local customisation.

At the same time, efforts could focus on enabling responsible use of high-quality local datasets.

> Invest aggressively in talent. Malaysia must pair global talent attraction with sustained local capability development to build the AI workforce needed to compete at scale.

It could aggressively attract top global AI talent through competitive incentives, strong research ecosystems and vibrant innovation hubs, while simultaneously building a deep domestic pipeline of AI talent.

This requires strengthening STEM education, expanding university–industry collaboration, embedding AI in technical and vocational training and accelerating workforce upskilling across sectors.

> Scale national platforms. Malaysia must move from fragmented pilots to scaled national platforms, anchored on high-impact use cases – such as a unified government interface linked to MyDigitalID.

This platform provides a common foundation to embed AI agents that deliver personalised public services.

Scaling up such platforms will catalyse greater private-sector participation and ensure sustainable adoption of agentic AI.

In addition, Malaysia could strengthen exchange platforms that bring together the government, industry and academia to accelerate collaboration, capability-building and use case development.

Associations such as AI Malaysia (AIM), Malaysian Autonomous Intelligence & Robotics Association (MyAIRA), along with other industry associations, can play a critical role in sharing best practices, mobilising talent and aligning stakeholders to drive ecosystem-wide adoption of agentic AI.

> Implement pro-innovation regulation. Malaysia needs regulations that protect users but also preserve competition.

Policymakers could favour a flexible model over rigid frameworks, particularly in a fast-evolving technological landscape.

Malaysia could pursue a balanced approach – combining principle-based guidelines, regulatory sandboxes and sector-specific standards that can evolve alongside the technology.

Priming Malaysia for growth is critical, but it is essential that this is done through a forward-looking and ethical approach.

Malaysia has the opportunity to differentiate itself by championing ethical, inclusive AI.

This is a core foundation of effective AI adoption, and should align with national values, ensuring that trust and confidence underpin the next wave of innovation in agentic AI.

Defining the future

The stakes are clear. AI investment compounds rapidly. Early movers attract capital, talent and vibrant ecosystems.

The choice is not whether AI will reshape the Malaysian economy.

The choice is whether Malaysia will shape that transformation with speed, clarity and ambition while remaining anchored to core Malaysian values.

CF Ong is managing director and senior partner in Boston Consulting Group.

New Year of Fire Horse brings ‘rapid change’ in 2026

The Fire Horse Effect—Why Powerful Women Are Still Labeled ‘Too Much’

 PETALING JAYA: The Year of the Fire Horse is expected to bring fast-moving opportunities, stiff competition and rapid change, with success favouring those who act boldly but think clearly, according to feng shui and metaphysics practitioners.

They said 2026 carries strong forward momentum, but warn that impulsive decisions and reactive thinking could lead to missteps in a year defined by speed, intensity and transformation.

In Chinese metaphysics, they added, each year is governed by a combination of a zodiac animal and one of the five elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water – which rotate in cyclical patterns.

2026 is classified as a Fire Horse year because it combines the Horse zodiac with the Fire element – a pairing associated with movement, ambition, visibility and acceleration, they said.

“The horse symbolises momentum and forward drive, while fire represents intensity, leadership and transformation.

“Together, they form a high-energy cycle often linked to rapid shifts, heightened competition and expanding opportunities but also greater risks when decisions are made impulsively,” said feng shui and geomancy consultant Prof Joe Choo Sook Lin.

Choo said the Fire Horse year reflects a period where growth potential builds steadily rather than explosively.

She described 2026 as a phase where opportunities emerge gradually, with momentum strengthening over time rather than arriving instantly.

Metaphysics expert Desmond Chun Yew Leong said personal grounding remains just as important as external action.

He encouraged Malaysians to return to basics, starting with family, intention and mindset.

“When nothing seems to move smoothly, start at home. Spend time with your parents or elderly family members, not just during Chinese New Year but regularly. Maintaining that bond often has a grounding effect that goes beyond symbolism,” he said.

“It’s not about rituals. When you reconnect with your parents, your heart settles. When your heart is steady, your decisions become clearer,” he added, describing parents as a form of gui ren (noble support).

Chun also encouraged charity and good deeds, stressing intention over expectation.

“Charity is about the cultivation of the heart. If you expect returns, the purpose is lost. When you feel adequate and at peace, you act with steadiness, which helps you navigate challenges,” he said.

He added that character plays a crucial role in both life and career.

“Being kind and responsible builds trust, reputation and relationships, which in metaphysical terms attracts supportive energy from those around you,” he said.

Chun also suggests spending time in positive environments, such as morning visits to temples, as a way to refresh energy and maintain balance.

“Before trying to change fate, take care of the heart. Many answers start at home,” he said.

Chinese New Year elements gain momentum overseas as ...

People's Daily

http://en.people.cn › ...

 In simple terms, Vogue summarized the symbolism as "rapid change, fresh opportunities, personal growth, and a faster pace of life."Read more

Penang dazzles for Chinese New Year

The Star

https://www.thestar.com.my › metro-news › 2026/02/11

 PENANG'S streets have turned a striking shade of red this Chinese New Year, as lanterns, temple lights, and modern projections combine to ...Read more

Penang to pay out i-Sejahtera aid starting Saturday

Great benefits: Chow (second from left), deputy state finance officer Khairusany Mohamed Yusof (third from left) and Lim (fourth from right) at the press conference in Komtar. — K.T. GOH/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: Penang will spend RM50.93mil on 281,135 recipients under Phase One of this year’s i-Sejahtera aid programme.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the aid will be disbursed via electronic fund transfer starting Feb 7.

He said the allocation would benefit 211,471 senior citizens, 16,694 persons with disabilities, 10,296 single mothers and 42,674 recipients under the golden housewife scheme.

“This programme is the state government’s ongoing commitment to the well-being of the people, particularly vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, the disabled, single mothers and housewives,” he said during a press conference in Komtar yesterday.

Chow said the allocation, which amounted to about 5% of the state’s revenue, is slightly lower than in 2025 due to a more targe­ted and focused approach.

Last year, the state government spent RM56.76mil on 290,629 recipients under various ­i-­Sejahtera programmes.

Chow said the adjustment reflected updated recipient data and stricter eligibility screening to ensure aid reaches those who are genuinely in need.

He said the initiative went beyond financial assistance, serving as recognition of the contributions made by these groups to the state’s social and economic deve­lopment.

Applications submitted after Jan 10 will be processed for payment under Phase Two of the 2026 programme, he added.

Also present was Penang social development, welfare and non-­Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim.

Registration can be carried out via the official i-Sejahtera website at https://isejahtera.penang.gov.my.

Applicants are encouraged to update their bank account details to ensure smooth payment processing.

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Australia Day marked by 'Invasion Day' rallies, anti-immigration protests

 

Protestors hold signs as they gather for an "Invasion Day" rally on Australia's national day, Australia Day, in Melbourne, Australia January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Hollie Adams

 

SYDNEY, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Thousands marked Australia's ‌national day on Monday by attending "Invasion Day" rallies in support of Indigenous Australians ‌and calling for unity,while separate anti-immigration protests also drew crowds.

Australia Day commemorates the day ‌Britain established the state of New South Wales as a penal colony, with the arrival in Sydney of ships bringing colonists and convicts.

However, for many Indigenous Australians, who make up about 4% of the country's 27 million people, ‍the holiday is known as "Invasion Day" and marks the destruction ‍of their cultures by European settlers.

At Sydney's ‌Hyde Park, the annual "Invasion Day" rally started at 10 a.m. (2300 GMT) with a tribute to ‍those ​killed by a gunman in a NSW rural town last week.

Indigenous speakers also talked about land repatriation, the high number of deaths of Aboriginal people in police custody and ⁠the need to stay united against increasing nationalism with the ‌right-wing opposition in disarray and Pauline Hanson's populist One Nation party rising in the polls.

Australia - where one in two ⁠people is either ‍born overseas or has a parent born overseas - has seen record-high immigration in recent years, fuelling discontent among some voters amid soaring costs of living and a housing shortage.

"We need a coalition of all new ‍Australians because if it wasn't for immigrants, Australia would ‌have perished," Aboriginal woman Gwenda Stanley told the rally, as she condemned Hanson.

"So don't just stand with us today. Stand with us every day."

Every year on January 26, protesters rally against the mistreatment of Indigenous people, demanding the government drop the Australia Day celebrations or move the date. However, a survey by the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Sunday showed a record number of Australians wanting to maintain the holiday on the same date.

Nearby, anti-immigration demonstrations began at noon as protesters, ‌estimated in the hundreds by local media, arrived carrying Australian flags on poles. March for Australia, which has been criticised for alleged links to neo-Nazi groups, organised the demonstration.

Similar events - "Invasion Day" rallies and March for Australia protests - ​are being held across the country.

Earlier in the day, in a speech as he presidedover an Australia Day citizenship ceremony, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for unity, not division.

View the ‘shocking’ university ranking with composure

 

Photo: VCG

The newly released "Leiden Rankings" from the Netherlands has recently drawn widespread attention. Eight of the world's top ten universities on the list are from China, with Zhejiang University ranking first, while Harvard University of the US - long a fixture at the top - fell to third place. The results sparked intense discussion. The New York Times published an in-depth analysis under the headline Chinese Universities Surge in Global Rankings as US Schools Slip, while France's Le Monde reported on January 20 that the ranking had triggered widespread shock, noting that the rise of Chinese universities has made the West less certain of itself. How should one view this "shocking" ranking? Our answer is simple: with composure.

First, the ranking does reflect, to a considerable extent, China's advances in education and science and technology. The Centre for Science and Technology Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, which publishes the ranking, is highly respected in the global field of scientometrics. The ranking focuses primarily on research output in high-impact international academic journals. Chinese scholars have ranked first globally for years in both the volume of SCI-indexed papers and citation counts. Judged by these criteria, it is hardly accidental that Chinese universities occupy eight of the top ten positions. In 2025, China's research and development (R&D) spending intensity reached 2.8 percent, surpassing the average of economies in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for the first time. The rise of many Chinese universities in the rankings is therefore a natural outcome of China's long-standing commitment to the strategy of invigorating China through science and education, coupled with sustained increases in research investment.

Most of the Chinese universities ranked in the top ten are research-oriented institutions with strengths in science and engineering, such as Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. What the ranking effectively "captures" is the growing competitiveness of China in fields such as electronic communication, materials science, physics, and chemistry. From Huawei's 5G technologies to the Tianhe supercomputers, and to the quantum satellite "Micius," Chinese university research teams have played a direct, critical, and in-depth role behind these achievements. The continuous flow of innovation generated by Chinese universities has been a powerful driver of China's transition from a major manufacturing country to a major science and technology power.

However, it is important to remain clear-eyed about the limitations of this ranking, which has a distinct focus - or preference. It places greater emphasis on universities' performance in academic research publications, reflecting only part of the picture rather than the whole. Judged by more comprehensive indicators, the more widely recognized global university rankings remain the QS World University Rankings, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities. In these rankings, universities from the US and the UK continue to dominate the top tiers. In terms of research originality, global talent attraction, and employer reputation, established Western universities still enjoy advantages. These gaps also serve as a reminder that the overall strength of Chinese universities - particularly their capacity to translate integrated technologies into real-world applications and their models for cultivating innovative talent - still has room for further improvement. 

Even so, in early 2000, the same Leiden Ranking still had seven US universities among the top 10, while Zhejiang University only made it into the top 25. Today, although Harvard produces even more research than it did back then, it has slipped to the third place. Given the progress made by Chinese universities over the past two decades, it is hardly difficult to understand why Western media might feel "shocked." This ranking has overturned many long-held perceptions. In fact, Chinese universities did not seize the spotlight "overnight." In recent years, from advances in basic research and breakthroughs in frontier technologies to leaps in strategic industries, China's scientific and technological rise has long been visible to the world. As universities serve as a "reservoir" for scientific and technological development, it is only natural that higher education institutions have made corresponding gains.

As for some Western media outlets linking the Leiden Ranking to narratives of "shifting power" or even a "new world order," this is an overreaction. Behind such "shock" lies Western anxiety over the erosion of technological hegemony. In reality, the progress of Chinese universities does not imply the failure of the West; rather, it represents a "collective increment" in humanity's overall creation of knowledge. From Harvard's liberal education to Stanford's entrepreneurial incubation, drawing on advanced educational philosophies from developed countries has itself been part of the progress of Chinese universities. At a time when global knowledge cooperation is becoming ever more closely intertwined, only by breaking free from zero-sum thinking can humanity's scientific enterprise advance together.

In a sense, the Leiden Ranking is like a mirror, reflecting both our achievements and our shortcomings. Every year, many Chinese students cross oceans to pursue their studies, with venerable Western institutions such as Harvard and Oxford remaining their "dream schools." We also hope that in the future, more international students will come to regard Chinese universities as their own "dream schools" and choose to study in China. That would be a far more persuasive kind of "ranking." 

-  Global Times editorial