What did Malaysia say about AI at the UN General Assembly?

In Malaysia's national statement on 26 September 2026, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said the Global South cannot simply become a destination for data centres while decisions about AI are made elsewhere.

What did Mohamad Hasan ask the UN to do?

He said the UN must continue empowering Global South countries to participate in global AI discussions. He also said equitable decision-making and development are needed so that AI's benefits are shared more broadly across borders.

Policy & regulation 27 September 2026

Mohamad Hasan tells UN the Global South must shape AI decisions

Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told the UN General Assembly in New York on 26 September that the Global South must have a meaningful role in AI decisions and not merely host data centres. According to Bernama in The Star, he urged the UN to keep empowering these countries to take part in global AI discussions.

Key points

Mohamad said AI is transforming economies, societies and government decision-making, bringing large opportunities and significant risks.
He said a small number of companies or countries cannot be the ones to decide the rules for everyone else.
He called for the heavy demands of technology infrastructure on water, energy and land to be managed.
Global South countries are likely to be more affected by inequitable AI development, he said.

Why it matters for Malaysia

As a major data centre destination, Malaysia is using a global platform to press for a say in the rules as well as a share of the investment. The stance echoes the domestic debate on capturing more value from AI infrastructure.

Questions answered

What did Malaysia say about AI at the UN General Assembly?: In Malaysia's national statement on 26 September 2026, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said the Global South cannot simply become a destination for data centres while decisions about AI are made elsewhere.
What did Mohamad Hasan ask the UN to do?: He said the UN must continue empowering Global South countries to participate in global AI discussions. He also said equitable decision-making and development are needed so that AI's benefits are shared more broadly across borders.

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