KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia is looking to take on a bigger role in shaping Asean’s digital future by developing regulatory tools and frameworks that can be adopted across the region, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said.
MCMC Operations Senior Advisor Datuk Zulkarnain Mohamad Yassin said Malaysia’s experience in connectivity, 5G deployment and digital regulation placed the country in a strong position to bring together regulators, industry players and other stakeholders to address emerging challenges.
He said the M360 Asean conference, held in Kuala Lumpur, served as an important platform for regional stakeholders to discuss shared issues and work towards a more coordinated approach to digital governance.
“What we are looking for is that we are able to provide that leadership in terms of providing codes or developing instruments that can be adopted,” he said.
Zulkarnain said digital transformation required collective action as no single country could independently drive changes in an increasingly interconnected digital economy.
“Now, if we want to drive change, currently it is not one country that makes this change.”
“You need to take leadership, but at the same time, you need to have a buy-in,” he added.
He said collaboration among regulators, policymakers, industry players and investors was crucial to ensure that digital policies took into account the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.
This was particularly important as governments sought to strike a balance between encouraging innovation and maintaining a safe, secure and trusted digital environment.
“When we talk about innovation, policy-making, people always talk about regulations or policy will stifle innovations,” he said.
Zulkarnain said continued engagement between governments, regulators and industry players would allow each side to better understand the challenges involved before new policies were introduced.
He pointed to Malaysia’s contribution to regional digital development, including the development of a 5G skills framework for Asean countries, which he said had received international recognition from the International Telecommunication Union.
“I think people or ASEAN countries sees Malaysia as a trusted partner,” he said.
He added that institutions such as MCMC Academy could play a role in strengthening digital capabilities and supporting capacity-building efforts across the region.
Zulkarnain said closer cooperation among Asean regulators would become increasingly important as countries tackled challenges involving social media, digital marketplaces, online safety and emerging technologies.
While countries had introduced different laws and regulatory approaches, he said sharing experiences would provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of various frameworks.
“Every country in the world is grappling with the influence of social media and the influence of the digital marketplace,” he said.
“But what we are seeing is learnings from these approaches, the various frameworks, the various legislations that these countries bring in. That gives us a wholesome view of what is the right approach.”
Zulkarnain said M360 Asean provided Malaysia with an opportunity to highlight its initiatives while strengthening cooperation with regional and international partners.
He said Malaysia would continue focusing on improving connectivity, empowering communities and building digital trust as more services and activities shifted online.
“I think this is where Malaysia sits at the centre of digital economy,” he added.
Zulkarnain said the country’s experience and existing partnerships would allow Malaysia to contribute further towards developing a more collaborative and inclusive digital ecosystem within Asean. – September 11, 2026