Key Points
- Malaysia is using blockchain and AI to combat corruption and fraud.
- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will monitor sectors with high corruption risks using these technologies.
Malaysia is utilizing Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to fight against corruption and fraud in the digital era.
Tan Sri Azam, the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), spoke at the 3rd International Conference on Technology, Humanities, and Management in Maldives. He discussed how technology has presented new challenges in the fight against crime.
Technology in Crime Fighting
MACC is incorporating AI and blockchain in its investigations. Azam stated that while these technologies have facilitated more complex crimes, they also provide potent tools to track illegal activities and bolster anti-corruption efforts.
AI’s capability to enhance data analysis and fraud detection allows MACC to discover financial inconsistencies that might otherwise remain undetected. Blockchain ensures unchangeable transaction records, making it more difficult for culprits to manipulate financial data.
MACC, an autonomous government agency in Malaysia, is tasked with investigating and prosecuting corruption in both public and private sectors. Utilizing these new tools, MACC will scrutinize key sectors such as law enforcement, public procurement, financial transactions, and subsidy distributions, where the risk of corruption is high.
Azam stated that this development aligns with the commission’s aim to increase transparency, integrity, and accountability across various sectors.
Malaysia’s Blockchain and Crypto Initiatives
This development is part of a larger initiative by the Malaysian government to embrace blockchain and digital innovation.
As per the country’s blockchain roadmap issued by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, the government has outlined 20 strategic initiatives and 10 core programs to incorporate blockchain into public services and other sectors.
Recent partnerships reflect these efforts, including one with Sam Altman’s World Network. MIMOS Berhad, the Malaysian government’s research arm, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Worldcoin Foundation, Tools for Humanity, and MyEG to integrate Worldcoin’s biometrics technology into Malaysian infrastructure.
Apart from blockchain, legislators have also shown interest in positioning Malaysia as a significant player in the global digital economy.
Anwar Ibrahim, the country’s prime minister, emphasized this ambition after a meeting with the Abu Dhabi government and Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao. He stated that Malaysia must develop policies for cryptocurrency and blockchain to ensure the nation doesn’t lag behind.