Cover YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo speaking about the Malaysia AI Education Alliance
YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo speaking about the Malaysia AI Education Alliance
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Malaysia’s first minister of digital and a distinguished human rights and constitutional lawyer, YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo is honoured this year with the Tatler Impact Award for Humanity for his steadfast commitment to building an inclusive, people-first digital future for all Malaysians
As digital minister and member of parliament for Damansara, YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo has emerged as one of the nation’s most influential voices in ensuring that technological advancement serves the public good. His leadership reflects a resolute belief that no citizen should be left behind as Malaysia accelerates towards a digital and AI-driven economy.
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At the heart of Gobind’s work is a mission to democratise access to technology. He has championed “AI untuk Rakyat”, a free, self-learning programme offering foundational AI knowledge in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Tamil and Mandarin. In just six months, the initiative has reached over a million Malaysians, providing equitable entry points into one of the most transformative technologies of our time.
Above Minister of digital, Gobind Singh Deo
Minister of digital, Gobind Singh Deo
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Within the public sector, his commitment to upskilling is equally ambitious. By integrating the “Google AI at Work 2.0” initiative, Gobind has made generative AI training accessible to 445,000 civil servants, enhancing digital literacy and strengthening the government’s ability to deliver responsive, tech-enabled services.
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Gobind’s drive for technological inclusion also extends into community-based AI. Through the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO), he is championing practical applications that improve everyday lives, from AI-assisted healthcare diagnostics to tools that support farmers in increasing yield and efficiency. Coupled with his ongoing push to make broadband and 5G connectivity more affordable and accessible, his efforts collectively advance the principle of digital access as a basic utility.
His commitment to humanity, however, long predates his ministerial roles. Before entering government, Gobind established himself as one of Malaysia’s leading criminal, constitutional and human rights lawyers. Trained as a barrister of Lincoln’s Inn and admitted to the High Court of Malaya in 1996, he handled numerous landmark cases involving freedom of speech and constitutional protections, earning recognition as a formidable defender of civil liberties.
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Gobind’s advocacy is also deeply rooted in building community. He continues to support women in the digital economy, particularly from the B40 income group, encouraging pathways towards e-commerce and digital entrepreneurship. His efforts to strengthen the welfare and cultural role of places of worship reflect his dedication to uplifting the Indian community nationwide. As a Member of Parliament, he remains actively engaged on the ground, personally channeling resources into community projects, welfare organisations and schools across his constituency.
Since becoming Malaysia’s first minister of digital in December 2023, Gobind has overseen major policy reforms that are shaping the country’s technological future. These include the Cyber Security Act 2024, the Data Sharing Act 2025, amendments to the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, the National Cloud Computing Policy and the establishment of NAIO. He also led the inaugural ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit, cementing Malaysia’s leadership within the region’s emerging technology landscape.
The Tatler Impact Award for Humanity recognises Gobind’s unwavering belief in the transformative power of technology, anchored by the conviction that progress must always be equitable, accessible and human-centred.
Tatler Ball 2025 is proudly sponsored by Cortina Watch Malaysia, Getha, YSL Beauty, KPJ Healthcare, Moët Hennessy, The St Regis Kuala Lumpur and Royal Selangor
