Malaysia has taken a pioneering step in ethical technology by partnering with Zetrix AI Berhad to develop the world’s first global framework for Shariah-compliant artificial intelligence.
The collaboration was formalised through a Letter of Intent signed on September 13, 2025, in Johor Bahru, in the presence of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
It brings together the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs and Zetrix AI, the company behind NurAI, the world’s first Shariah-aligned large language model.
The framework is designed to establish standards for AI certification, governance, and compliance with Islamic principles, ensuring the technology can be trusted across sectors from finance and healthcare to education and law.
Zetrix AI had earlier unveiled NurAI in August, a multilingual model that integrates Islamic values into responses and follows guidelines from Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM).
Analysts say this latest move is part of a growing demand for ethical safeguards in AI, particularly in Muslim-majority countries where Shariah compliance is a priority.
The announcement comes amid calls for stronger regulation of artificial intelligence. Days before the agreement, Minister for Religious Affairs, Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar urged Islamic authorities to craft Shariah-based guidelines for AI, warning of risks such as algorithmic bias and moral conflicts if left unchecked.
Malaysian media, including Berita Harian, have also stressed the urgency of protecting umat Islam from potential misuse of advanced technologies, highlighting the need for frameworks that align innovation with faith.
Industry experts believe Malaysia’s initiative could set benchmarks well beyond its borders, potentially drawing interest from Gulf states and Indonesia as they explore ways to harmonise technology adoption with Islamic values.
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