Tech Luminary Award presented to Datuk (Dr) Yasmin Mahmood as more than 1,100 guests celebrate Malaysian innovation and PIKOM’s 40th anniversary
SUBANG JAYA, Sept 14 – A record 102 technology players were recognised at the PIKOM Digital Excellence Awards this year, more than double the 52 winners recorded last year, as the awards expand to reflect the breadth of Malaysia’s digital ecosystem.
A highlight of the PIKOM Digital Excellence Awards (PDEA) 2026 was the presentation of the PIKOM Tech Luminary Award to Datuk (Dr) Yasmin Mahmood for her extraordinary leadership, lasting influence and exceptional contribution to Malaysia’s technology industry.
Yasmin, currently executive chairman of Jasa Kita Berhad, previously served as chief executive officer of MDEC, where she played a defining role in advancing Malaysia’s digital economy and strengthening its position on the global technology stage.
More than 1,100 industry leaders, government representatives and technology professionals attended the gala dinner, the largest dinner in PIKOM’s 40-year history.
PIKOM chairman Adjunct Professor (Practice) Alex Liew said the record participation demonstrated the strength and diversity of Malaysia’s technology ecosystem.
He said the higher number of recipients did not make PDEA easier to win, with every submission required to meet stringent qualification requirements before being independently assessed against defined criteria.
Meanwhile, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said Malaysia must move beyond simply adopting technologies developed elsewhere as the country advances towards becoming an AI Nation by 2030. His speech was delivered on his behalf by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah.
“True digital sovereignty means moving from being passive consumers and manufacturing hubs to becoming creators, leaders, and owners of the very tools, architectures, and platforms driving the global economy,” Gobind said.
He called on the digital industry to become a proactive architect of Malaysia’s future by working with the government on practical regulatory environments, industry-led talent development and the effective implementation of national digital strategies.
“Government policies set the trajectory, but the private sector dictates the velocity. PIKOM is uniquely positioned to help the government accelerate its digital ambitions,” he said.
Gobind also urged the award recipients to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a technology bridge for Southeast Asia by developing interoperable platforms and localised artificial intelligence models that reflect the region’s languages, markets and security priorities.
He said AI and advanced digital solutions must also be accessible to micro, small and medium enterprises, for which digital adoption was increasingly becoming a matter of survival rather than an optional investment
About The Author
