PM Anwar launches Ant International’s KL hub, calls for AI governance and inclusive growth.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the inaugural ceremony of Ant International’s Global Operations Centre at Tun Razak Exchange today, describing the launch as part of a “digital financial renaissance” while urging the fintech sector to keep human judgment central to an increasingly AI-driven financial system.
In his address, themed “The Hub of a Digital Renaissance,“ Anwar noted that artificial intelligence is reshaping how trust is built, risk assessed, and financial access expanded. He cautioned, however, that these advances raise pressing questions around accountability and transparency.
Reflecting on the global financial system, Anwar observed that traditional banking, while central to mobilising capital, has historically failed to serve all segments equally — a legacy he said the Global South inherited through heavy reliance on the US dollar and a structure that tends to favour large multinational firms over small businesses. He pointed to the 2008 Financial Crisis as an example of how localised shocks can cascade into global disruption, underscoring the need for innovations that build resilience and expand fair access to micro-credit.
Welcoming Ant International’s decision to base its Global Operations Centre in the capital city, Anwar stressed that technology and finance must not be pursued as ends in themselves. Instead, he said, they should generate quality jobs, strengthen local capabilities, and widen affordable access to services for underserved communities — translating into tangible improvements in productivity, resilience, and quality of life for Malaysians.
The Prime Minister said financial services sit closer to the everyday lives of citizens than almost any other industry, capable of providing credit to families facing medical emergencies or helping small traders reach international markets. He acknowledged that digital advances in telecommunications and computing have already enabled complex cross-border payments and currency exchange mechanisms that ease volatility.
Looking ahead, Anwar said the era of artificial intelligence would go further still, transforming how commerce is conducted, credit assessed, and risk managed across borders. While large language models could remove barriers and unlock new opportunities for trade, he warned that such technologies also concentrate significant power among those who control data, platforms, and digital infrastructure — making it essential that human oversight remain central to decision-making.
Addressing those operating within the new centre, Anwar emphasised that trust and security must underpin their work, so that customers can be confident their money is secure, their data protected, and decisions about them fair.
On the regulatory front, Anwar revealed that the Malaysian government is finalising its AI Governance Bill, which will complement existing frameworks such as the Cybersecurity Act and current data protection laws. He linked this effort to the broader goals of the 13th Malaysia Plan and the final phases of the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, both of which prioritise digital trust as a foundation for national development.
Anwar noted that Ant International is the first fintech company to establish a full global operations centre in Malaysia, rather than merely a regional base — a move he described as a reflection of growing international confidence in the country’s capacity to host higher-value technology, AI, and global service functions.
