Malaysia Advances Islamic Values-AI Leadership with JAKIM–Zetrix AI Collaboration

  • Letter of Intent signed to establish world’s first Shariah-compliant Large Language Model framework, witnessed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Johor Bahru, 13 September 2025 — In a significant step towards Islamic values-based artificial intelligence (AI), Zetrix AI Berhad (Zetrix AI), formerly known as MY E.G. Services Berhad, developer of the world’s first Shariah-aligned Large Language Model (LLM) NurAI, and the Government of Malaysia, through the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), today signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate on establishing the foremost global framework for Shariah compliance, certification and governance in AI.

The LOI was received by Dato’ Dr. Sirajuddin Suhaimee, Director General of Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), from Datuk Mohd Jimmy Wong Abdullah, Director of Zetrix AI Berhad. The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and YB Senator Dato’ Setia Dr. Haji Mohd Na’im Haji Mokhtar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs).

Building Trust in NurAI
JAKIM, which stands for Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia), is a Malaysian federal government agency responsible for administering Islamic affairs and providing halal certification for products and services, making it a globally trusted standard for consumers and industries catering to Muslim populations. Beyond certification, JAKIM also plays a role in developing and coordinating Islamic administration within Malaysia.

NurAI has already established itself as a pioneering Shariah-aligned AI platform. 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.

Additionally, 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 digitalisation agendas, ensuring AI remains trusted, secure, and representative of Muslim values while serving more than 2 billion people worldwide.

Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim reinforced that national policies should incorporate various inputs, including digitalisation and AI — and must always remain grounded in Islamic principles and values that deserve emphasis.

Areas of Collaboration
Through the LOI, Zetrix AI and the Government via JAKIM, propose to collaborate in three key areas:

  • ● Shariah Certification and Governance — Developing frameworks, ethical guidelines and certification standards for AI systems rooted in Islamic principles.
  • ● Global Advocacy and Promotion — Positioning Malaysia as the global centre of excellence for Islamic AI and championing the Islamic digital economy projected at USD 5.74 trillion by 2030.
  • ● JAKIM’s Official Channel on NurAI — Creating a trusted platform for fatwas, halal certification and verified Shariah guidance, combating misinformation through AI.

Reinforcing Malaysia’s Halal Tech Leadership
Datuk Mohd Jimmy Wong Abdullah, Director of Zetrix AI Berhad, said:
“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.”

Local, Secure and Cost-Effective AI
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.

NurAI is available for download on www.nur-ai.ai.

About Zetrix AI Berhad

Zetrix AI Berhad (“Zetrix AI”), formerly known as MY E.G. Services Berhad, is leading the way in the deployment of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence in powering the public and private sectors across ASEAN. Headquartered in Malaysia, Zetrix AI started operations in 2000 as a pioneer in the provision of electronic government services and complementary commercial offerings in its home country. Today, it has advanced to the forefront of technology transformation in the broader region, leveraging its Layer-1 blockchain platform Zetrix and embracing the convergence of Web3, AI and robotics to enable optimally-efficient, intelligent and secure cross-border transactions, digital identity interoperability and automation solutions that seamlessly connect peoples, businesses and governments.

Front row: Datuk Mohd Jimmy Wong Abdullah, Director of Zetrix AI Berhad (left) and Dato’ Dr. Sirajuddin Suhaimee, Director General of Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) (right), during the signing of the Letter of Intent between Zetrix AI Berhad and the Government of Malaysia, through the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs).
Back row, from the left: The signing was witnessed by YB Tuan Haji Mohd Fared bin Khalid, Chairman of the Johor State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee; YB Dato’ Haji Asman Shah bin Abd. Rahman, Secretary of the Johor State Government; YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz bin Ghazi, Chief Minister of Johor; YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia; and YB Senator Dato’ Setia Dr. Haji Mohd Na’im bin Haji Mokhtar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs).

For media enquiries, please contact:
Lydia Yeow, Corporate Communications Manager, Zetrix AI Berhad
jh.yeow@myeg.com.my