‘Malaysia can position herself as a leading AI hub in the Asean region with a cohesive strategy anchored in ethical principles, inclusive policies and collaborative governance.’
– KP Chiew, Entrepreneur and AI expert
Last week, I sat down with entrepreneur and AI expert Chiew Kok Peng in his office in Kuala Lumpur for a chat about AI. Of course, we know what AI is about but do we really know AI up close and personal?
As Chiew is the first AI expert I had the opportunity to discuss the subject with, I think it may be useful to share his knowledge and expertise on AI with readers of the New Sarawak Tribune.
Chiew Kok Peng (or KP Chiew as he is popularly known) is also the Secretary General of the One Belt One Road Economic Friendship Association (OBOR). He was also recently appointed the AI Adviser of the SME Association of Malaysia.
Here is my Q&A with our AI expert, KP Chiew:
Let’s begin with a basic introduction to AI. What is AI?
Chiew: Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to machines or software that mimic human intelligence to perform tasks like learning, problem-solving, decision-making and even creativity. Unlike traditional programmes, AI systems improve over time by analysing data.
Some examples are: Recommendation Systems – Netflix suggesting shows; Lazada recommending products – movies, dramas; Generative AI – ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Gemini.
Why does it matter? AI is transforming every sector – healthcare, education, finance and more. It’s not just a tech trend; it’s a productivity revolution that will redefine how we live, work, produce, and survive in an uncertain global environment where trade wars and trade barriers are the strategic weapons of developed nations.
Why is AI critical for Malaysia?
Chiew: Many Malaysians use AI daily. E.g: Grab’s route optimisation and TNG e-wallet fraud detection without realising it.
Awareness helps citizens make informed choices (eg. spotting deepfakes, and understanding data privacy).
How to build awareness: Follow local and foreign AI news (eg. MDEC’s AI initiatives, China CGTN, Singapore CNA); Experiment with free AI tools like Deepseek, ChatGPT or Gemini; Attend community, industrial or academic workshops on AI basics.
Why is it important to be AI literate? What does AI Literacy mean?
Chiew: AI Literacy means the ability to understand, use and critically evaluate AI tools. Literacy goes beyond awareness – it’s about knowing how AI works and its ethical implications.
Key Components:
- Technical Basics: How AI learns from data (eg. ChatGPT, Deepseek training on text); Common terms: Machine learning, algorithms, neural networks.
- Practical Skills: Using AI tools (eg. prompting ChatGPT and Deepseek effectively); Identifying AI applications (eg. AI-driven customer service chatbots).
- Ethics and Risks: Bias in AI (eg. resume screening tools favouring certain demographics); Privacy concerns (eg. facial recognition misuse).
In Malaysia, it is a good sign that schools and universities are integrating AI literacy into their curricula.
In your opinion, how ready is Malaysia for AI? Are we well-prepared for it?
Chiew: I believe that Malaysia is well prepared to adopt AI across sectors, supported by infrastructure, skills, policies and public mindset.
If we survey Malaysia’s readiness for AI, its strengths are the High Internet penetration (87%) and National AI Framework and MyDigital initiatives.
Our main gaps are the rural-urban digital divide (eg. Sabah’s and Sarawak’s connectivity lag) and that only 26% of workers have advanced digital skills (World Bank stats).
There is also a lack of AI talent in the country.
What are the ways to improve the nation’s readiness or our capacity to handle AI better?
Chiew: Firstly, I think that the government has to expand 5G coverage and subsidise Internet usage in rural areas.
Then, businesses have to train employees in AI tools (eg. Deepseek+applications, Microsoft Copilot).
Individuals must learn to use AI for daily tasks (eg. budgeting with AI apps).
Implement AI Reskill and Upskill: Reskill – Training workers for new roles displaced by AI (eg. Clerk to AI Executive factory workers to AI technicians).
Upskill – Enhancing current skills to work alongside AI (eg. marketers using AI analytics tools).
Can you share some tips for first-time users:
Chiew: As in all things new, start small. If you are in business, use AI to collect market info or market intelligence regarding a particular industry or business.
Stay curious. Ask questions like, “I am an admin clerk responsible for office normal admin correspondence. How can AI improve my job?”
Try one tool today. Ask ChatGPT for recipe ideas or use Gemini to edit a photo or Deepseek to write a letter to the authority.
Make some effort to learn like enrolling in a free AI course. After you have acquired some knowledge, share with family members and friends how AI works.
A FINAL STATEMENT FROM KP CHIEW:
AI is not just for tech experts – it’s for everyone. Let’s awaken to its potential and shape Malaysia’s AI future together.
To thrive in this AI-driven age, Malaysia must harness the technology’s vast potential to catalyse economic growth, drive innovation and advance sustainable development.
As Malaysia charts its AI journey, ethical considerations must remain central. Building trust in AI systems – through transparency, accountability, and fairness – is essential to ensure they serve the public good and reflect the nation’s multicultural values.
By fostering partnerships between government, industry, academia, and civil society, Malaysia can cultivate a robust AI ecosystem that prioritises talent, and human-centric innovation, safeguards data privacy, and addresses biases. Equally critical is investing in education and workforce reskilling and upskilling to empower the public with the digital literacy needed to thrive in an AI-augmented future.
AI journey starts today, now. Not tomorrow and don’t procrastinate.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
