MyDIGITAL Corporation and Pepper Labs have formalized a partnership to expand inclusive AI learning through Rakyat Digital, combining Malaysia’s Digital Learning Hub with Dapur Digital’s community-based network to help more Malaysians access and use AI.
MyDIGITAL & Pepper Labs Inks Partnership At AI-Ready Malaysia Summit 2026
The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding exchanged at the AI-Ready Malaysia Summit 2026 earlier this month. Under the Public-Private-Community Partnership model, MyDIGITAL Corporation provides national coordination, structured learning pathways, and digital access, while Pepper Labs contributes community reach and delivery experience within Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) communities.
The initiative supports Malaysia’s Towards an AI Nation 2030 agenda under the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan, the Malaysia Digital 2030 Action Plan, and the National AI Action Plan 2026-2030. Rakyat Digital, an initiative of the Ministry of Digital implemented by MyDIGITAL Corporation, follows a 3A approach, Awareness, Access, and Adoption, aimed at helping Malaysians build digital and AI understanding and apply it practically.
Dapur Digital, a community entrepreneurship initiative by Pepper Labs, converts underutilized spaces in PPR communities into economic and learning hubs, supporting women micro-entrepreneurs and local communities through training, shared facilities, and market access. Through the partnership, this community-based model supports each stage of the 3A approach: building awareness through guided learning, expanding access by connecting participants to Rakyat Digital courses and certifications, and supporting adoption by helping micro-entrepreneurs apply digital and AI tools in their businesses.
The collaboration will also support Pepper Labs’ AI-Ready Malaysia initiative, with selected programmes expected to be featured on Rakyat Digital’s Digital Skills Hub. The initiative is supported through the AI Opportunity Fund for Asia-Pacific, implemented by AVPN with support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank, aiming to strengthen AI capabilities for up to 50,000 Malaysians, including MSMEs, university students, and educators.
Pokdepinion: Bringing AI training into PPR community spaces instead of keeping it all online is a smart move, since that’s exactly where a lot of people get left out of these programs otherwise.
