Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim spoke at multiple events in Tokyo on June 9 and 10, emphasizing that artificial intelligence must be guided by ethics, human values, and a deep understanding of society to ensure inclusive and sustainable progress [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. He delivered a special lecture titled "Humanity in a Human-Machine Civilisation" at the University of Tokyo on June 9 to more than 500 students, where he said, "The future lies in multidisciplinary knowledge, grounded in ethics and humanity" [1, 7].

Anwar stressed that AI should serve real development needs such as improving public services, education, healthcare, agriculture, engineering, and civil service. "We must build systems that serve human beings and enrich our humanity, not debase it," he said. He added that AI development must be anchored in humanity, integrity, moral responsibility, and not driven solely by technological efficiency or economic profit [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8].

At the 31st Nikkei International Conference on the Future of Asia on June 10, Anwar warned that AI risks becoming a tool of "digital colonisation" if dominated by a few powerful actors, particularly private tech firms, excluding developing countries from AI governance. He called for stronger international cooperation and inclusive institutions to ensure all societies benefit and have a voice in setting AI rules. "Whether in the form of a new 'civilising mission' or 'digital colonisation', we must reject any new manifestation of technological fascism," he said [5, 8].

The prime minister highlighted that rapid technological advances alone cannot solve societal challenges like inequality, exploitation, wars, and oppression. Malaysia’s Madani development framework emphasizes human-centred progress amid technological change [2, 3, 4, 6, 8]. Anwar urged universities to produce graduates with both academic excellence and ethics. "Universities must strive for excellence, but excellence alone is not enough. We need excellence with soul," he told students at AIMST University on June 10, while also stressing the importance of equal educational access and additional support—such as an extra RM1 million allocated for students from poor families—to bridge urban-rural digital divides [9, 10].

Anwar also addressed political issues at a UiTM Merbok meeting June 10, rejecting claims he is delaying general elections to stay in power. He said his priority is to stabilize the economy and attract investment. Malaysia’s economy remains resilient with a strong ringgit, low unemployment, and record foreign and domestic investment [11, 9, 12]. "I want to focus on solving the people's problems first. Politics must be stable," he said.

During his University of Tokyo lecture, Anwar joked that "AI also can be the abbreviation of Anwar Ibrahim," injecting humor into his serious calls for human-centred AI governance [7].

On June 9, he also met the chairman of a peace foundation in Tokyo, discussing conflicts in Myanmar and the Middle East and emphasizing diplomacy and international engagement [8].