The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) advanced its All‑Star Development Programme on 25 June 2025 with a flagship keynote and panel at its Cyberjaya headquarters. Co‑designed with KNOLSKAPE, the global experiential‑learning specialist, and supported by EdTech leader Emeritus, the initiative sits at the heart of a three‑year journey to cultivate digital‑ready leaders for the nation’s communications and multimedia sector.

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Phase 2 gathered 51 high‑potential professionals who had already achieved a 100 per cent completion rate in the programme’s immersive, simulation‑based courses. Their next task: to explore how leadership must evolve as artificial intelligence reshapes the competitive landscape.

Reframing Leadership for the AI Era

Professor Ts Dr Murali Raman, Deputy Vice‑Chancellor (Academic Development and Strategy) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), joined a distinguished line‑up of panellists to tackle the theme “Redefining Leadership in the Age of AI: Balancing Human‑Centric Values with Digital Innovation.” 

He spoke alongside Mr Chari TVT, Board Member and Chair of UEM Sunrise’s Governance and Risk Committee; Ms Jeany Tan, Chief Strategy Officer at Shieldbase AI; and Mr Kee Wooi Saw, Software & Customer Engineer at Google Malaysia. The discussion was expertly moderated by Mr Arvin Danial.

Drawing on more than two decades of scholarship and practice in digital transformation, Prof Murali argued that modern leadership has moved decisively away from command‑and‑control towards empowerment, collaboration and agility. “Digital tools have democratised information,” he observed. “Teams are no longer content to await instructions—they expect to co‑create solutions.”

He emphasised that successful leaders now build cultures of trust and transparency, ensuring every voice is valued. This inclusive approach not only accelerates innovation but also meets the expectations of a digitally native workforce. Panel colleagues concurred, noting that AI amplifies both the speed and the ethical stakes of decision‑making: leaders must be technologically fluent yet relentlessly human‑centred.

APU Insight, National Impact

Although the event was an internal leadership forum rather than a public conference, Prof Murali’s presence underscored APU’s broader commitment to shaping Malaysia’s digital future. His insights resonated with participants keen to translate high‑level concepts into practical action inside their own organisations.

“At APU, we harness technology to elevate, not eclipse, human potential,” Prof Murali told the audience. “True digital leadership fuses data‑driven insight with empathy, integrity and an unwavering focus on societal benefit. When those elements align, Malaysian innovators can compete—and lead—on the world stage.”

The quote encapsulates APU’s brand promise: technological excellence coupled with values‑based leadership. It also echoes the university’s strategic focus on digital transformation, cybersecurity and advanced analytics—disciplines that demand both hard‑edged expertise and nuanced ethical judgement.

Looking Ahead to Phase 3

With Phase 2 completed, the All‑Star Development Programme now progresses to Phase 3, where participants will deepen their ecosystem thinking and design sustainable digital strategies for the communications and multimedia sector. KNOLSKAPE’s simulation platform will again provide a safe environment in which to experiment, fail fast and refine approaches before deploying them in the real world.

Prof Murali’s contribution leaves a clear message: Malaysia’s future competitiveness depends on leaders who can wield AI responsibly while inspiring diverse teams to innovate at pace. Through initiatives such as MCMC’s All‑Star Development Programme—and with guidance from thought leaders like those at APU—the nation is steadily building the talent it needs to thrive in a rapidly digitising global economy.

In reaffirming APU’s role at the forefront of this journey, Prof Murali added: “We will continue to collaborate with industry and government to ensure our graduates are not just job‑ready, but future‑ready—leaders who see technology as a force for inclusive growth.” 

As the next cohort prepares for its own immersive challenges, the lessons from Phase 2 serve as both a blueprint and an inspiration: in the age of AI, leadership excellence is measured not by how much technology one commands, but by how profoundly one uplifts people through that technology.