Malaysia funds 100,000 free learning licences to build AI-ready workforce

Malaysia’s Ministry of Digital is funding 100,000 free learning licences as part of its push to develop a digitally skilled workforce and advance its “AI Nation 2030” ambition.

The initiative, called the “Global Learning Pass”, gives Malaysians with a MyDigital ID three months of access to more than 16,000 courses and professional certificates through the Rakyat Digital portal, operated by MyDIGITAL Corporation. The programme has been rolling out in phases since 16 September.

In its first 21 days, about 12,900 learners enrolled in 43,000 courses, according to figures shared at a media briefing in Kuala Lumpur. The government is targeting five million sign-ups across its digital programmes by 2030.

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The initiative forms part of the Malaysia Digital 2030 Action Plan and the National AI Action Plan 2026–2030, as the country seeks to equip its workforce with skills needed in an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. The World Economic Forum’s "Future of Jobs Report 2025" estimates that 41% of core skills in Malaysia are expected to change by 2030.

However, expanding access to training is only one part of the equation. The government is also looking at how to translate course participation into recognised credentials and practical workplace skills.

Speaking at the briefing, Ministry of Digital secretary-general Fabian Bigar said promotion of the "Global Learning Pass" would lean on the Rakyat Digital portal, which has about 1.6 million sign-ups, alongside campaigns and on-the-ground outreach. These include a digital week in Limbang, Sarawak.

The ministry also hopes to work with industry to connect learners who earn certifications with employers. Fabian said success would be measured through course completion, credentials earned and real-world application, rather than the number of licences distributed.

MyDIGITAL Corporation CEO Adrian Marsalis said an AI Builders programme would be piloted next, with further media briefings planned.

The early uptake offers a glimpse into the skills Malaysians are seeking. The most popular course so far is “Understanding digital transformation”, a two-hour beginner course developed by MyDIGITAL using Coursera’s course builder. Other popular choices include Google’s AI fundamentals, data analytics and project management.

Demand for generative AI training is also rising. Data from online learning platform Coursera shows that Malaysian learners’ study of generative AI grew 235% year on year between January and September 2026. Enrolments in its GenAI courses accelerated from one Malaysian learner every 19 minutes in 2025 to one every eight minutes in 2026.

The figures suggest growing interest in AI-related skills, although enrolment alone does not establish whether learners have completed their courses or applied those skills at work.

This initiative comes as Malaysia builds out the institutions behind its AI agenda. In September, the Digital Ministry appointed former AirAsia chief executive Aireen Omar as chairperson of AI Malaysia, the agency launched in July as the successor to the National AI Office to coordinate the national AI agenda.

Separately, the government has also moved to regulate AI with a proposed governance bill, which would introduce a risk-based framework covering AI developers and deployers.

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