The Tortoise, the Hare, and the Harvest: Rethinking Legal Frameworks in Post-Quantum Malaysia
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Abstract
Quantum computation unsettles the boundary between theoretical possibility and applied infrastructure, altering how value, knowledge, and strategic power circulate within national economies. While many jurisdictions pursue self-reliant quantum strategies to minimise dependence on foreign actors, Malaysia has adopted a partnership-driven model that integrates international expertise into its emerging quantum ecosystem. Recent developments, including the establishment of Malaysia’s Quantum Computing Centre, reflect an ambition to position the country as a regional quantum hub within ASEAN. Notwithstanding these developmental strides, this trajectory generates a core governance tension: reliance on foreign quantum infrastructure risks entrenching technological dependence and information asymmetry, weakening Malaysia’s capacity to shape the regulatory conditions under which quantum innovation is deployed. This paper maps the legal vulnerabilities quantum computing presents within Malaysia, focusing on limitations of patent protection for quantum software, the layered operation of copyright across software abstractions, and emerging privacy and cybersecurity challenges. It further examines competition law risks arising from early market dominance and innovation control. By synthesising technical quantum concepts with Malaysian legal frameworks, this analysis advances an adaptive regulatory perspective beyond reactive governance and proposes targeted enhancements.
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