Malaysian government has partnered with Zetrix AI Berhad, a developer of Shariah-aligned large language model (LLM) NurAI, to collaborate on establishing the global framework for Shariah compliance, certification and governance in artificial intelligence (AI).

Zetrix AI said in a statement on last Saturday that the government of Malaysia, through the Prime Minister’s Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the firm for the collaboration.

Through the LOI, Zetrix AI and the government via JAKIM, propose to collaborate in three key areas shariah certification and governance, global advocacy and promotion, and JAKIM’s official channel on NurAI.

The duo will be developing frameworks, ethical guidelines and certification standards for AI systems rooted in Islamic principles.

They will also be positioning Malaysia as the global center of excellence for Islamic AI and championing the Islamic digital economy projected at $5.74 trillion by 2030.

The duo will also be creating a trusted platform for fatwas, halal certification and verified Shariah guidance, combating misinformation through AI.

“This collaboration ensures that NurAI is not only technologically advanced but also firmly rooted in the ethical and cultural values of our nation,

“The coming together of the Government, JAKIM and NurAI will see Malaysia take the lead in strengthening its global halal position by extending it into the digital economy particularly in Islamic finance, education, and law – making Malaysia a frontrunner in Shariah-compliant AI,” said Mohd Jimmy Wong Abdullah, Director of Zetrix AI Berhad.

According to the statement, this milestone underscores the urgent need for AI systems that move beyond secular or foreign-centric worldviews, offering instead a platform rooted in Islamic ethics.

It positions Malaysia as a global leader in ethical and Shariah-compliant AI while setting international benchmarks.

The initiative also reflects the country’s halal and digitalization agendas, ensuring AI remains trusted, secure, and representative of Muslim values while serving more than 2 billion people worldwide.

It is noted that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reinforced that national policies should incorporate various inputs, including digitalization and AI — and must always remain grounded in Islamic principles and values that deserve emphasis.

Zetrix AI highlighted that NurAI, Malaysia’s official national LLM, has already established itself as a pioneering Shariah-aligned AI platform.

It said that with today’s collaboration, JAKIM, under the Ministry’s leadership, would play a central role in guiding the certification, governance and ethical standards of NurAI, ensuring its alignment with Islamic principles.

NurAI is developed in Malaysia, supporting Bahasa Melayu, Indonesian, English and Arabic.

It complies with national data sovereignty and cybersecurity policies, reducing reliance on foreign tools while ensuring AI knowledge stays local, trusted, and secure.

JAKIM, which stands for Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia, is a Malaysian federal government agency responsible for administering Islamic affairs and providing halal certification for products and services.

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