Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

Written by: Izzat Najmi Abdullah, Journalist, AOPG.

Cisco is taking a giant leap in Malaysia’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) landscape with three exciting new collaborations, all aimed at propelling AI innovation and closing the country’s growing skills gap. At its inaugural AI Day event, Cisco announced partnerships with key organisations, including Telekom Malaysia (TM), Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). These collaborations are set to drive AI-based growth, both in terms of innovation and business strategy.

AI is reshaping the future, with the potential to boost Malaysia’s GDP by a staggering USD $115 billion. However, this growth brings new challenges, especially in cybersecurity. Cisco laid out its game plan to help businesses in Malaysia scale AI infrastructures while addressing security risks. The strategy includes building trusted infrastructure to power AI workloads and simplifying business operations through AI-driven tools.

The Secretary General’s Perspective on AI

During his keynote, Fabian Bigar, Secretary General of the Ministry of Digital, highlighted AI’s transformative power across industries, stating, “The opportunities for AI are immense – from enhancing healthcare to optimising farming techniques. It cuts across all sectors.” He also pointed out that while AI is a massive economic driver, many Malaysian companies have yet to fully embrace the technology. According to Cisco’s AI Readiness Index, although 87% of Malaysian organisations see AI as transformative, only 13% feel prepared to implement it. The government’s focus is on making AI accessible, especially for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which form the backbone of the economy.

To tackle this, Fabian Bigar highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure, talent, and regulatory frameworks to foster AI innovation. He also touched on the importance of creating cyber resilience to protect digital assets.

“Creating cyber resilience is crucial for building trust among stakeholders, ensuring AI’s responsible use,” Fabian noted.

Collaborations That Matter

At Cisco’s AI Day, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Digital further emphasised the power of public-private partnerships, such as Cisco’s collaboration with TM and PNB. He remarked that these partnerships demonstrate Malaysia’s commitment to harnessing AI to modernise industries, drive sustainable growth, and ultimately, secure long-term prosperity. Cisco unveiled two key collaborations under its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme – an initiative aimed at using digitisation to drive economic resilience and inclusivity.

The first partnership involves TM, where Cisco will assist in upgrading the Ministry of Digital’s (JDN’s) Putrajaya campus infrastructure to support AI and machine learning applications. This collaboration will focus on security, agility, and AI-powered tools like Cisco Webex and Cisco Spaces, ensuring seamless workplace experiences and optimised office spaces.

The signing of the collaboration agreement between Cisco and TM, in collaboration with JDN.

The second collaboration with PNB focuses on equipping PNB’s new office with cutting-edge AI-driven technologies. These include Cisco Webex, Meraki devices, and ThousandEyes, all designed to enhance PNB’s ability to innovate and ensure sustainable operations. This AI-driven approach will elevate PNB’s workspaces while enhancing network visibility and user experiences.

The signing of the collaboration agreement between Cisco and PNB.

Bridging the Skills Gap with Hackathons

Cisco, MDEC, and UTM are coming together to launch a nationwide AI hackathon. University students from across Malaysia will compete to develop AI solutions, with a focus on education and beyond. This initiative aims to close the skills gap by giving students hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology.

Participants will receive one-on-one mentorship from Cisco engineers, as well as training sessions covering networking, security, and collaboration. Teams will compete to showcase their innovative ideas, helping nurture the next generation of AI experts.

Fabian Bigar praised this collaboration, noting that, “The AI hackathon is a great example of how we can continue to nurture a future-ready talent pool. This kind of hands-on experience is crucial for developing the skills necessary to participate in our digital economy.”

Supporting the Leaders of Tomorrow

Cisco is also backing MyDIGITAL Corporation’s Executive Digital Leadership (EDL) Programme, an initiative designed to give C-suite executives a deep understanding of how to integrate advanced technologies into their organisations. Cisco will introduce its Internet of Things (IoT) course as part of its globally recognised Networking Academy, which has already provided over 150,000 Malaysians with critical digital skills.

Cisco and MyDigital solidify partnership for Cisco’s Executive Digital Leadership Programme.

With the government’s target for the digital economy to contribute 25.5% to GDP by 2025, Bigar stressed the need for inclusive growth, saying, “Digital technology is for everyone. We will ensure no one is left behind as we work toward transforming Malaysia into a digital nation.”

From modernising workplaces to nurturing future talent, Cisco is helping shape Malaysia’s AI future. These collaborations are just the start of a journey toward building a more connected, innovative, and resilient digital economy.

“Cisco has a role to play in every step of the AI revolution,” said Hana Raja, Managing Director for Cisco Malaysia.

“Our unique position to combine the power of the network with industry-leading security, observability, and data enables us to offer visibility and insight across customers’ entire digital footprint. What we have announced today with partners like TM and PNB demonstrates how our AI innovations can help businesses in Malaysia enhance their operations, improve customer experiences, and drive sustainable growth,” she said.

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