Yasmin Mahmood, former MDEC CEO, wins industry award for digital economy contributions
- ID
- 23444
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 11 Sep 2026, 2:31 PM
- Fetched
- 11 Sep 2026, 3:07 PM
- Provider
- Digital News Asia
- Category
- malaysia-tech
- Original URL
- https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/digital-economy/yasmin-mahmood-former-mdec-ceo-wins-industry-award-digital-economy-contributions
- Source URL
- https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/rss.xml
Summary
- Score
- 4.5
- Created
- 11 Sep 2026, 3:07 PM
- Tags
- Audience
- saas_foundersai_ml_learnersai_agent_users
What happened
Former MDEC CEO Yasmin Mahmood received the Pikom Tech Luminary Award 2026 for her three-decade career in Malaysia's digital transformation. At the same event, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo called for Malaysia to move beyond consuming foreign tech and hosting data centres toward owning IP, building localised AI models for ASEAN, and becoming a 'full-fledged AI Nation by 2030,' while urging industry to submit proposals ahead of Budget 2027.
Why it matters
Gobind's signal that government wants localised AI models and interoperable ASEAN-focused digital platforms creates a policy window for Malaysian founders building regional AI products. If you build in this space, submitting concrete proposals for Budget 2027 is a direct channel to shape funding or incentives that could affect your runway.
Discussion angle
Is the 'localised AI models for ASEAN' call a real opportunity for Malaysian builders, or is it policy rhetoric without procurement backing? What would a credible Budget 2027 proposal from the startup community actually ask for?