Global Platform Recognises Gobind Singh Deo Among Top 100 Government AI Leaders
On Jan 21, Malaysia's Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo was named to Apolitical's "Government AI 100," a global list that highlights public leaders advancing AI policy and delivery in government.
The list notes his role in making AI a core pillar of Malaysia's public sector modernisation, including the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO). It reflects steady progress on both policy design and on-the-ground execution.
What moved the needle
- Establishing the NAIO to coordinate Malaysia's AI agenda across government.
- Strengthening cybersecurity legislation to enable safe AI adoption.
- Modernising personal data protection to protect citizens and build trust.
- Proposing a Data Sharing Bill to support responsible, interoperable data use across agencies.
Gobind credited the Digital Ministry and its agencies for the recognition, noting their commitment to build an "AI Nation" by 2030. He underscored a practical next step: focus on measurable impact for citizens, businesses, and government operations.
Why it matters for public servants
AI success in government depends on clear policy, reliable data access, and strong safeguards. Malaysia's approach is laying groundwork that lets teams pilot real services while maintaining security and privacy-exactly the balance most agencies need.
For many departments, the takeaway is simple: start small, ship value, and scale what works. Reliable guardrails and cross-agency data standards make that possible.
How the recognition works
Apolitical sourced nominations through research and its global community, then evaluated candidates on impact in AI governance, implementation, and adoption. A final shortlist underwent independent review by three external AI experts.
Apolitical is a platform founded in 2015 to help governments learn and share what works. It's used by over 250,000 verified public servants across 170 countries, with a wider community of 400,000+. Learn more at Apolitical.
Peers on the list
Other honourees include Michael Kratsios, Dr Fei-Fei Li, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Evelyn Grass, and Zhuang Rongwen-showing the mix of policy leaders, technologists, and international bodies pushing AI forward in the public sector.
Perspective from Malaysia's ecosystem
MDEC chief executive officer Anuar Fariz Fadzil highlighted clear direction and consistent delivery under Gobind's leadership. He pointed to stronger public-private collaboration and the right conditions for trusted AI rollouts as key enablers of momentum.
Practical next steps for agencies
- Pick one service with high citizen impact and measurable outcomes; run a time-boxed AI pilot with clear success metrics.
- Use shared data standards and privacy-by-design patterns; prepare for the upcoming Data Sharing framework.
- Build a small cross-functional cell (policy, tech, legal, operations) to shorten feedback loops and unblock delivery.
If your team is building AI capability, you can explore curated training by job role here: AI courses by job.
Bottom line: Recognition is good. Delivering services that save time, cut costs, and improve outcomes is better. The policy foundations are taking shape-now it's about disciplined execution and transparent results.
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