Malaysia plans to introduce its first dedicated AI law by early 2027

Malaysia plans to give artificial intelligence its own rulebook. The country is preparing to introduce its first dedicated AI law in early 2027. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced on September 10, 2026 that his ministry has finalized the draft Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Bill. The draft will soon go to the Cabinet. The plan is to table it in Parliament by the end of Q1 2027 at the latest. What the AI Governance Bill would do The bill is built on a risk-based model. AI systems would not be treated as one big category. Each system would be sorted by how much damage it could plausibly cause. The bill sets out three tiers. Tier 1 covers unacceptable risk. AI uses in this bucket would be prohibited where there is intent to harm. Tier 2 covers high-risk systems. These would require assessments, oversight and documentation. Tier 3 covers low-risk applications. These would face baseline compliance. The draft also lays out five core principles meant to guide how AI is built and deployed: Human Dignity Transparency and Explainability Accountability Safety and Security Data Governance The stated goal is to build trust in AI systems. A new regulator enters the chat The bil...