Credit : Gobind Singh Deo's X
October 24, 2026 — Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has called on public sector leaders to build the vision, knowledge and skills needed to harness new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), saying the digital transformation of the civil service depends on capable leadership.
In a post shared on X on Saturday, Gobind said he had spent the day with 60 civil servants who are members of the Persatuan Penjawat Awam Kaum India Putrajaya (Imaiyam Putrajaya), the Putrajaya association of Indian civil servants, who are taking part in the Executive Digital Leadership Programme (EDLP).
“Transformasi digital sektor awam memerlukan kepimpinan yang berwawasan, dilengkapi pengetahuan dan kemahiran untuk memanfaatkan teknologi baharu, khususnya AI, dalam meningkatkan kecekapan organisasi serta mutu penyampaian perkhidmatan kepada rakyat,” he wrote. In English, the minister said the public sector’s digital transformation requires visionary leadership, equipped with the knowledge and skills to use new technologies, especially AI, to raise organisational efficiency and the quality of services delivered to the people.
A three-month programme with industry experts
According to Gobind, the EDLP is designed to strengthen the ability of public sector leaders to drive digital transformation within their own organisations. He described it as a three-month programme in which participants gain knowledge and experience alongside technology experts from AWS, Cisco, IBM, Microsoft and Shopee.
Participants also explore applications of new technology that can help them raise productivity, streamline work processes and improve public services, the minister said. The post was accompanied by photographs from the session, showing Gobind addressing the participants and civil servants taking notes during the programme.
Four cohorts and full funding in 2027
Looking ahead, Gobind said the EDLP will offer four cohorts in 2027, beginning in April 2027. Eligible officers will receive an incentive covering 100 per cent of the programme fees. He said eligibility covers officers at Grade 52 under the Sistem Saraan Malaysia (SSM) or Grade 13 and above under the Sistem Saraan Perkhidmatan Awam (SSPA). The offer spans the Federal and State civil services, local authorities and statutory bodies, opening the programme to senior officers well beyond the federal ministries.
“Saya menyeru lebih ramai pemimpin sektor awam untuk merebut peluang ini dan terus mempertingkatkan kemahiran digital serta keupayaan kepimpinan mereka,” Gobind wrote, urging more public sector leaders to seize the opportunity and keep improving both their digital skills and their leadership capabilities.
Knowledge must become action
The minister stressed that mastering technology on its own is not enough. “Penguasaan teknologi sahaja tidak mencukupi, sebaliknya ilmu yang diperoleh perlu diterjemahkan kepada tindakan dan perubahan yang membawa manfaat nyata kepada rakyat,” he said, meaning the knowledge gained must be translated into action and change that brings real benefits to the public.
Gobind closed his message by calling for a collective effort to strengthen digital leadership in the public sector and to drive Malaysia’s aspiration of becoming an AI Nation by 2030. He tagged the post with the hashtags #AINation, #Government and #MalaysiaMADANI.
His remarks underline the government’s emphasis on preparing senior civil servants to lead the adoption of AI and other digital tools across ministries, agencies and local authorities, with the 2027 cohorts set to widen access to the programme through full fee funding for eligible officers.
Source : Gobind Singh Deo’s X (https://x.com/GobindSinghDeo/status/2113993926747332961)
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