Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the AI for Rakyat programme during the 2026 National Day Eve address at Putrajaya International Convention Centre on August 30, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. The initiative targets 100,000 Malaysian youths aged 18 to 30, offering free access to AI tools after successfully completing six training modules [1, 4, 2, 3].
Modules participants must complete and pass include AI Nation 2030: Madani Approach, Cybersafe for Rakyat/People, Generative AI, AI Safety/Security, Agentic AI for All, and Cloud for Rakyat/People [1, 2]. Upon completion, participants gain three months of free access to selected AI applications such as YTL AI Labs’ IlmuChat, Alibaba’s Wonderclip and MuleRun, and Google’s Gemini Enterprise [1, 2, 3].
“ The programme is offered free to eligible Malaysian citizens aged 18 to 30, subject to completion and passing of the prescribed modules,” Prime Minister Anwar said [1]. The Digital Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Fabian Bigar added, “We want to ensure that the benefits of AI can be felt more widely and inclusively, in line with the government’s aspiration to build a society that is digitally literate and prepared for the future” [1].
Participants who complete the modules and verify their status through MyDigital ID get access to the IlmuChat Pro subscription, which normally costs RM50 per month [4]. IlmuChat is a sovereign AI model designed specifically for Malaysians, supporting multiple languages including Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese, and Manglish [4]. YTL AI Labs CEO Foong Chee Mun said, “We’re proud to support the government in advancing Malaysia’s ambition to be a leading AI nation, starting with giving young Malaysians access to ILMUchat Pro. We look forward to empowering this generation not just to use AI, but to become the builders and contributors who define Malaysia’s AI future” [4].
The programme will run in phases through the Rakyat Digital portal starting August 31, 2026 [1, 2]. It aims to build digital literacy, creativity, productivity, and responsible AI use aligned with Malaysia Digital 2030 goals [1, 2]. Support partners include the Digital Ministry, YTL AI Labs, Alibaba, Google, and MyDigital Corporation [1, 4, 2, 3].
