Tech policy changes loom as Malaysia reshuffles Cabinet

Dan Lain-Lain (Malay for “and others”) is a weekly column by Tech in Asia journalist Emmanuel Samarathisa that dissects the goings-on in the Malaysia tech scene but with a heavy mix of current affairs, policy, and politics. Click here to read past articles.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) holding the list of new Cabinet members and their deputies during a press conference on December 12 / Photo credit: Prime Minister’s Office

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim finally announced his revised Cabinet line-up, quelling months of speculation. The changes mean that with more hands on deck, Anwar can easily put in place certain reforms, especially in the tech space, since as part of the reshuffle, he has carved out a dedicated ministry to handle digital policies and investments.

Tech policy continuity

Anwar retained the same names – Rafizi Ramli and Chang Lih Kang – to respectively lead the Economic Affairs Ministry and the Science, Innovation, and Technology Ministry.

This might mean a greater focus on tech given that Anwar has been emphasizing the country’s openness to receiving investments from top tech personalities such as Elon Musk or, more recently, Nvidia founder Jensen Huang.

There’s also the whole govtech push to digitalize public services. In 2024, we’re also expecting a policy called the high-growth high-value blueprint that’ll spell out directions for startup development and incentives as well as initiatives in attracting global tech companies to domicile in Malaysia. Plus, there’s a government-led tech convention in the offing next year. For now, all these remain, so that’s a plus if policy is your jam.

Ministries are split, and so is messaging

The Communications and Digital Ministry is relevant to tech due to the fact that it deals with social media platforms and also has agencies such as the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation under its purview.

This is the agency that gives grants to entrepreneurs to do a variety of things under the digital umbrella and also oversees the digital nomad visa.

But Anwar’s reshuffle saw two ministries being split.

He separated Communications and Digital into two different ministries. Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change has also been divided into two. The first ministry is called Energy Transition and Public Utilities, while the second one is Natural Resources and Sustainability.

While Communications will take care of social media platform regulations, as well as the state-owned media divisions, Digital will handle investments and so on.

Communications will still be helmed by Fahmi Fadzil, who has been breathing down the necks of social media platforms – TikTok in particular – since he took office.

Newly minted Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo (left) speaking to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil during a cabinet meeting today / Photo credit: Prime Minister’s Office

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