- Cybersecurity expert SL Rajesh urges Malaysia to soon issue clear regulations to manage foreign AI platforms like DeepSeek, aimed at protecting data privacy and preventing external influence.
- According to Rajesh, AI is not neutral but reflects the laws, biases, and political views of the country where it was developed, posing potential risks when applied to policy-making, education, and public media.
- Low-cost AI systems like DeepSeek are believed to be capable of generating misinformation or bias, exacerbating the risks of manipulating public opinion, elections, and healthcare, and causing social tension.
- DeepSeek, developed by Chinese engineers, emerged in early 2025 as a rival to ChatGPT due to its optimization for Chinese and Asian languages and its ability to process high volumes of data per second at a low cost.
- However, many countries such as South Korea, Germany, Australia, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic have banned the use of DeepSeek in state agencies due to data security concerns.
- Taiwan also warned against other models like ByteDance’s Doubao and Baidu’s Ernie Bot due to issues of censorship and biased content.
- Malaysia’s Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo stated that Putrajaya is “seriously considering” DeepSeek and is developing an AI legal framework expected to be presented to the cabinet by June 2026.
- Rajesh suggests that a total ban is unwise; instead, regulations are needed on what data can be exported, along with risk assessments, algorithm transparency, and periodic checks for compliance with Malaysian law.
- Expert Farlina Said emphasizes the need to develop “AI made in Malaysia” to control data, ensure cultural and legal fit, and reduce external dependence, while recommending verification of information sources from all AI models.
📌 Experts urge Malaysia to soon issue clear regulations to manage foreign AI platforms like DeepSeek, aiming to protect data privacy and prevent external influence. Malaysia faces a strategic choice regarding foreign AI like DeepSeek: prohibition or smart governance. Experts agree that risks regarding data, bias, and political influence are real, but the sustainable solution is a clear legal framework, risk assessment, and the development of domestic AI. With the AI law expected to be presented in June 2026, how Malaysia balances innovation and data sovereignty will determine the safety and reliability of the national AI ecosystem.
