Credit : Gobind Singh Deo's X
KUALA LUMPUR, October 30, 2026 — The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Bill is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in early 2027, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has said, as the government finalises a risk-based legal framework to make those who build and use AI systems answerable for the risks they create.
Gobind gave the update in Parliament on Thursday, October 29, in reply to questions from the Member of Parliament for Bagan Serai, Datuk Haji Idris Haji Ahmad, and the Member of Parliament for Bangi, Syahredzan Johan, on the status of the bill. He later summarised his answer in a post shared on X on Friday morning.
“We are finalising the main policy direction in an inclusive manner and based on a risk-based approach,” he wrote in Malay, adding that the Digital Ministry remained committed to strengthening the nation’s digital resilience through the enforcement of existing laws and the introduction of the AI Governance Bill “to protect Malaysians from the threats of new technology from time to time.”
What the bill will cover
According to Gobind, the framework being developed will cover AI risk management, the accountability of parties involved in developing and using AI, and mechanisms for reporting and managing incidents. Responsibility will be determined by the role, level of control and level of risk linked to an AI system throughout its life cycle.
He said the bill would also provide a legal basis to ensure that those who develop, supply or use AI systems carry appropriate responsibility for identifying, assessing and managing risks. This includes taking suitable preventive and mitigating steps, and making sure corrective action can be taken if an incident, a system failure or harm linked to the use of AI occurs.
The Edge reported that the proposed bill has been completed and will be submitted to the Cabinet in the near future. Utusan Malaysia, quoting the minister, reported that public consultation and engagement sessions involving ministries, government agencies, industry players, academics, professional bodies, civil society organisations and members of the public had drawn 317 pieces of feedback from 218 entities, which are being studied to finalise the bill’s framework.
Existing laws still in force
According to The Edge, Idris had also asked about current legal protection for victims of fraud, identity theft, content manipulation and the misuse of AI. Gobind said that while the bill is being finalised, the government will continue to tackle fraud, deepfakes, content manipulation and false information under existing laws, including the Penal Code, the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, the Online Safety Act 2025 and the Cybersecurity Act 2024.
He added that the government is strengthening cooperation among ministries and agencies through AI Malaysia Bhd, which brings together experts to advise on current regulatory frameworks, and is working with other ASEAN member states on a coordinated approach to AI standards and regulation. Work is also under way to strengthen the Evidence Act and the Criminal Procedure Code to improve the handling of technology-related cases, particularly in prosecution and the presentation of evidence in court, the report said.
The update follows Gobind’s winding-up speech in the Budget 2027 debate earlier this week, in which he said the bill was being drafted to strengthen safety and accountability in the AI ecosystem, as reported by LNA.
Source : Gobind Singh Deo’s X (https://x.com/GobindSinghDeo/status/2115951266132267079), with additional reporting from The Edge (https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/823773) and Utusan Malaysia.
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