Anwar said the communications ministry and the digital ministry must take immediate action to ensure that local works of art were protected and not vulnerable to risks arising from the rapid advancement of AI technology, including plagiarism.

“On the issue of copyright, the protection is not limited to cartoonists but also covers films, poems and other creative works, which at times face copyright challenges due to the development of AI.

“This legal protection is to ensure that creativity and the artistic abilities of creators are not stifled by copyright disputes or questions over the authenticity of their works,” he said when speaking at the launch of “Melukis Dengan Hati: Biografi Perjalanan Seni 50 Tahun Karya Zunar” at Pustaka Raja Tun Uda, here, today.

Also present were the prime minister’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari as well as cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwarul Haque, better known as Zunar.

Separately, Anwar called for the development of more local AI technology experts, to ensure that the development of AI in Malaysia aligns with the nation’s values and societal norms.

He said while the country’s existing AI policy had never neglected or separated local values, the younger generation must still be trained to master the necessary knowledge, so that whatever AI produces reflects local perspectives.

“Everyone acknowledges that AI is a new technology, but we must understand that what AI generates is based on inputs and data largely shaped by western countries, particularly the US, as well as China and others.

“I share the concerns surrounding AI, but we will not set aside or separate cultural, religious, and value-based elements in our national policy on AI technology.”