Malaysia’s artificial intelligence ambitions took a tangible step forward this week as Strateq Group (Strateq), one of the country’s long-standing integrators turned digital solutions company, hosted the Strateq AI Forum 2026.
The forum, held on January 27, brought together voices from government, industry, and academia with one shared message: AI is a key way for organizations to operate, compete and create value.
The event also saw Strateq announce a strategic partnership with MaiStorage, a fast-growing AI and data-centric tech company, in an effort to drive business-friendly AI solutions in Malaysia.
The forum was chaired by YB Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong, Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs, who emphasized the government’s view that AI is now a strategic national asset rather than an optional add-on.
“The year 2025 marked a significant turning point in Malaysia’s digital landscape,” YB said, referring to the shift in how organizations invest in AI tools, talent, and regulatory frameworks.
“With initiatives like Malaysia AI Nation 2030, supported by strong regulatory frameworks, AI ethical principles and close cooperation between government and industry, Malaysia remains committed to building a credible, inclusive and sustainable AI system.”
An ecosystem designed for virtual discovery
From keynotes to panel sessions, the forum discussions focused on how AI can significantly benefit organizations in all sectors, such as improving productivity and automating tasks to enable new digital experiences.
At the heart of Strateq’s forum, however, was the company’s AI Ecosystem, a structured platform built with input from partners, customers, and government agencies. Its mission is to move businesses from testing to real-life AI implementation.
As part of this initiative, Strateq Group will launch AI learning programs and AI Transformation Workshops to equip organizations with the skills and roadmap needed to implement their AI transformation agenda.
“This AI Ecosystem is our commitment to deliver not just incremental development, but a step change in productivity, innovation, and competitive advantage,” said Datuk Tan Seng Kit, Strateq Group Managing Director.
Strateq and MaiStorage also showcased its aiDAPTIV+ solutions suite, a set of AI components and use cases that organizations can quickly adopt to deploy AI across functions and verticals.
Closing national policy and business acceptance
At this event, Dato’ Pua Khein Seng, Founder and Group CEO of Phison Electronics & MaiStorage Technology, described the progress of AI as something that needs to be built from the ground up rather than people and knowledge in this institution.
“While AI is advancing rapidly and thought leadership is becoming increasingly marketable, users
experience and people who build AI in companies are always important,” he stressed.
MaiStorage itself has recently come to the fore for its talent development programs, including programs to train engineers in IC design and AI technology with the long-term goal of strengthening Malaysia’s capabilities in both the technology and semiconductor sectors.
The strategic partnership with Strateq aims to combine Strateq’s business history with MaiStorage’s AI and data engineering expertise. According to the firms, this partnership will make AI solutions more accessible and relevant to local businesses.
This is in line with advice from one of the forum speakers Mr. Hoo Chuan Wei, Chief Security Officer at StarHub Inc., who encouraged companies to build AI models that suit the Malaysian context and industry needs.
With the government’s strong support, he asserted that Malaysia is now well positioned to lead ASEAN in driving AI adoption.
Bridging the gap between ambition and execution
Strateq Group’s journey began as a systems integrator back in 1983. Four decades later, the company has evolved into a full-spectrum digital solutions provider operating across Southeast Asia, China, and the United States.
Today, Strateq’s portfolio includes everything from data center services and industry solutions to data analytics, enterprise platforms, and now AI frameworks.
While not a household name like other AI innovators, Strateq Group has quietly built partnerships and projects with major organizations across the public and private sectors.
With the Strateq AI Forum 2026, Strateq reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with government and agencies, industry and academia to build a strong and future-proof AI ecosystem that will strengthen Malaysia’s digital competitiveness and support its ambition to become a regional leader in artificial intelligence.
- Learn more about Strateq Group here.
- Read other stories we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Featured Image Credit: Strateq Group
