Game-changing 2026 starts with us

AS 2025 comes to a close, I look back and see it as a year that found its way towards a better balance of economic resilience and technological ambition. It was a period when Malaysia made bold, strategic moves in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, and innovation, genuinely strengthening its competitive edge.

Confident leadership saw Malaysia take its turn at the table as Asean chair. The term “innovation hub” became a buzzword for any new tech opportunity in Malaysia.

Whether it was in data centres, digitalisation, or renewable energy, Malaysia did a good job of balancing policy, research and development (R&D), and collaboration to succeed. 

I’m glad to say that, as a nation, we shifted fairly quickly from hype to substance.

I remember that in early 2025, many began the AI conversation with fear that jobs would be lost.

Fortunately, with a resilient mindset and a can-do attitude, we saw people embracing AI tools to bring efficiency to the workplace and creating new businesses on the side to boot!

Multimedia University wasted no time and launched the Faculty of AI Engineering to ensure our young minds are ready for the future.

We saw responsible AI move from abstract policy discussions into concrete practice. Organisations began to recognise that AI is only as strong as the governance and ethics that shape it.

Malaysia made significant strides – from strengthening data transparency to building frameworks that prioritise fairness, accountability, and inclusion.

These efforts were not merely compliance exercises; they were foundational steps toward building public trust. And ultimately, trust is the cornerstone of any nation ready to harness AI at scale.

I wrote about the need for energy-efficient infrastructure. As data consumption soared and digital ecosystems expanded, the country doubled down on greener data centres, and carbon-aware computing.

Malaysia shifted the narrative from growth at all costs to growth with a conscience – something that is dear to my heart.

In a space where technological advancement had to align with environmental responsibility, we met that challenge with clarity and intent!

Take the biorefinery plant in Pengerang, Johor. It is set to produce sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogenated vegetable oil and bio-naphtha to cater to the growing demand for cleaner energy solutions.

I also highlighted how 6G technology is being R&D-ed as a quantum-ready network, designed to secure the digital economy and prepare for a quantum powered future.

Going beyond 5G’s focus on speed, it integrates AI, edge computing, and quantum communication to enable ultra-secure data, autonomous systems, and immersive digital experiences.

Looking back, it has become clear to me that a main theme emerged in everything I wrote and believed in – resiliency.

The strength and capability that Malaysia has to overcome any challenge, from foreign technology and environmental pressures to competing on a global scale, is remarkable.

Robust foreign direct investment inflows and tech sector growth are strong proof of this.

The Malaysian economy expanded in the third quarter (3Q25) by 5.2%, compared to 4.4% in the 2Q25. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this growth was driven by strong performances across all sectors.

Taken together, these signals point to a country that is not merely weathering uncertainty, but actively converting it into opportunity.

With resilient fundamentals, broad-based growth and a proven ability to adapt, Malaysia has shown that it has what it takes to compete, endure, and move forward with confidence.

Purposeful innovation

Which is why, for 2026, three themes stand out to me as especially urgent:

> A prevention-first healthcare mindset.

> A renewed understanding of how we coexist with the natural world.

> More focus on R&D – as a nation that creates is a nation that controls its own economic destiny.

First, we must shift firmly toward a prevention-first healthcare mindset.

Our healthcare system is strained not because we lack medical expertise, but because we intervene too late.

Imagine the impact on long queues at public hospitals if we prioritised early screenings and became more aware of lifestyle risks.

Prevention is not merely a health strategy – it is an economic imperative.

Second, we must talk honestly about how we protect ecosystems and coexist with wildlife. We are a biodiversity-rich nation, but that richness is fragile.

Human-wildlife conflict, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity loss are present-day realities.

Coexistence requires designing developments that respect natural habitats, strengthening conservation policies, and fostering a mindset where communities understand the value of nature not as an obstacle, but as an irreplaceable asset.

Sadly, many people lack this mindset today.

Third, we must create more awareness about the abundant food sources in the country and their nutritional content – not only to promote healthier consumption but also to reduce reliance on imports.

Why? Because awareness shapes behaviour.

Over time, this strengthens national food security, stabilises supply chains, and builds a more resilient and sustainable food ecosystem.

Values, impact and responsibility 

In many ways, Malaysia has done more than keep pace.

Do I think we can still do more? Absolutely.

A sustainable, healthy, and ecologically balanced Malaysia is entirely within reach, if we choose to build it together.

We have perfected the art of balancing ambition with responsibility, innovation with sustainability, and ideas with impact.

In doing so, we have set the tone for the years ahead.

Looking forward, 2026 must take us deeper. It should be the year we elevate the conversations that shape behaviour, strengthen resilience, and guide how we evolve as a nation in the face of rapid technological, environmental, and societal change.

At its core, innovation has never been just about tools or technology – it is about values and the kind of impact we choose to make every single day.

As for TM R&D, we will continue championing these national conversations, pushing for progress that is thoughtful, inclusive, and purposeful, and ensuring the innovation we create truly serves Malaysia’s long-term wellbeing.

As we step into the New Year, I hope everyone strives to achieve their best in 2026 – because then, it will be a game-changing year for Malaysia!