ASEAN Technology Forum Highlights AI, IoT and Cybersecurity for Future Emergency Response

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 : Regional technology leaders, policymakers and industry experts convened at the MITEC Kuala Lumpur today for Forum 3: Future Building & Safety Emergency Response under the ASEAN Technology Cooperation and Development Summit 2025. The session focused on “ASEAN Critical Infrastructure: AI, AIoT, and Cybersecurity,” highlighting the region’s urgent push to strengthen digital resilience and emergency preparedness.

Moderated by Ms. Jane Gan, Vice President of Intrinsic SEA, the panel brought together key figures driving innovation across national AI development, smart systems, and digital security. Speakers included Mr. Shamsul Izhan Bin Abdul Majid from Malaysia’s National AI Office (NAIO), Mr. Johnson Chng, CEO of Upstream L-Ferrara Company Limited (UPC), Prof. Dr. Mohd Rizal Ashram, Senior Fellow at National Defence University of Malaysia, and Dr. Tan Khang Wei from Xiamen University Malaysia.

The discussion underscored how AI-driven predictive systems, intelligent IoT sensors, and advanced cybersecurity frameworks are becoming essential for safeguarding ASEAN’s critical infrastructure ranging from transportation networks and healthcare systems to energy grids and disaster-response operations.

Speakers highlighted real-time analytics, autonomous monitoring devices, and cross-border digital cooperation as crucial tools for responding to natural disasters, cyberattacks, and urban emergencies. Several panelists stressed the need for harmonized policies within ASEAN to ensure technology interoperability and seamless information sharing between member states.

With ASEAN pushing toward deeper digital transformation under its 2025 agenda, the session emphasized that a secure and AI-driven infrastructure ecosystem is key to protecting both economic development and public safety across the region.

The three-day summit continues through Nov 27, featuring high-level dialogues, technology showcases, and cross-industry collaboration aimed at strengthening ASEAN’s innovation landscape.