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Anwar: Most rural Sabah villages to get solar power by year-end

Anwar: Most rural Sabah villages to get solar power by year-end

Daily Express6 days ago

Published on: Friday, May 30, 2025
Published on: Fri, May 30, 2025
By: Abbey Junior Text Size: PMO pic PENAMPANG: Most rural villages in Sabah will be powered by solar energy by year-end under the Madani solar initiative, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced during the Kaamatan celebration. The initiative aims to install cost-effective matrix solar systems in remote areas, addressing decades-long electricity gaps. Anwar stressed the need for practical solutions over costly, unworkable plans, adding that additional funds will be allocated if needed. He said rural electrification is part of broader efforts to improve water access, education, roads, and poverty in Sabah, reaffirming the government's commitment to fair development and grass roots impact. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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Asean urged to balance AI innovation with human values
Asean urged to balance AI innovation with human values

Free Malaysia Today

time34 minutes ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

Asean urged to balance AI innovation with human values

Malaysia is exploring how AI can be used in weapons systems, cybersecurity, data analysis and other areas as other countries in Asean also press ahead. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA : As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly advances, institutions from government agencies to small and medium enterprises have long since recognised the need to integrate the technology into their operations. Malaysia's defence ministry is exploring how AI can be used in areas like weapons systems, cybersecurity, and data analysis, with other countries across Asean also pressing ahead. Indonesia is partnering with Turkey to develop AI-powered drones, while Vietnam's defence tech arm, Viettel, is integrating AI into radar and electronic warfare systems. As Asean chair this year, Malaysia has also led digitalisation efforts among small and medium enterprises, allocating RM100 million in grants and RM900 million in loans to promote automation and AI adoption to boost productivity. However, diplomats and analysts have raised concerns over the over-reliance on AI technology and called for a more balanced and human-centred approach surrounding its governance. At the 2025 Fortune Asean-GCC Economic Forum, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia should not abandon human values when adopting AI, and called for legislation to protect digital sovereignty. Human-centric approach Rafael Daerr. European Union ambassador to Malaysia Rafael Daerr told FMT that both Asean and the EU shared the same view: that AI must remain people-centric. As AI will have far-reaching consequences on the future, he said that it was crucial to find the appropriate balance 'between ensuring a form of regulation or governance framework that maintains the maximum space for innovation and to make it as human-centred as possible'. Analysts have also urged caution in deploying AI in military contexts, especially amid rising tensions in the South China Sea and instability in Myanmar. Faizal Abdul Rahman. Faizal Abdul Rahman, a research fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, noted that AI-powered propaganda is already shaping narratives in the South China Sea, describing it as a new front in cognitive warfare. 'AI cognitive warfare would be a tactic that claimant countries need to prepare for,' Faizal said. However, he said it remains unclear whether Asean nations are willing to accept regulatory limits that could constrain their strategic manoeuvring in the South China Sea, a highly contested body of water where China, through its 'nine-dash line', has asserted sovereignty and maritime claims over a large swathe. Faizal said negotiations over the Asean-China code of conduct, which have dragged on for over two decades, suggest that there is more pessimism than optimism in resolving the dispute. Rising AI-powered cybercrime Besides military applications, AI is also fuelling a rise in sophisticated cross-border cybercrime, particularly scams and fraud driven by generative AI, deepfakes and voice cloning. A 2023 UN report revealed that cybercriminals in East and Southeast Asia defrauded victims of up to US$37 billion through AI-powered scams. Dusit Manapan. In an interview with FMT, Dusit Manapan, an adviser to Thailand's foreign minister, said Myanmar's political instability brings risks of an increase in crimes such as commercial scams, drug trafficking and weapons trading. He said the Thai government's 'harsh measures' to hinder these criminal activities along the Myanmar border have only been partly successful, as the perpetrators always found a way to replace what they have lost. Dusit also said the nation's aerial surveillance through drones has also been hindered by advanced counter-technology. 'The people over there possess high technology to jam our drones, and I think they have the resources and ability to procure some high-tech equipment. This is a business that makes a lot of money for them,' he said. The Asean Community Vision 2045, adopted at the 46th Asean Summit last week, incorporates AI as a critical component of the region's development strategy. Malaysia will lead the establishment of the Asean AI safety network, to institutionalise regional principles of AI safety, ethics, and governance, positioning the region as a leader in responsible AI development.

Federal projects in Sabah must follow set schedule
Federal projects in Sabah must follow set schedule

Daily Express

timean hour ago

  • Daily Express

Federal projects in Sabah must follow set schedule

Published on: Thursday, June 05, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 05, 2025 By: R Gonzales Text Size: 'I am satisfied with the cooperation shown by all parties involved in this intervention committee,' Ewon said. KOTA BELUD: Development projects in Sabah funded by the Federal Government must be implemented according to the set schedule. Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said this is to ensure that all projects in the pre-implementation phase are initiated by the respective committees involved. Ewon, who serves as co-chairman of the Federal-State Sabah Development Project Monitoring Coordination Intervention Committee together with Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, said the committee is tasked with ensuring that all projects in the pre-implementation category can be initiated. 'Once the projects are handed over to the implementing agencies and contractors, monitoring will continue through other platforms such as the Development Action Committee Meetings,' he said after officiating the Kaamatan Festival celebration and the opening of the Kampung Podos open hall, here. Ewon was commenting on the latest developments in the meeting of the Federal-State Sabah Development Programme and Project Monitoring Coordination Intervention Committee. He said the Special Intervention Meetings, which began earlier this year, have shown positive results. 'Many technical and administrative issues have been resolved more quickly through direct engagement between implementing agencies, ministries and the State Government,' he said. Based on the report presented at the Sabah Federal-State Development Project Monitoring Coordination Meeting last May, the number of projects in pre-implementation status has been reduced from 207 projects to 137 projects. Ewon described the decline as a positive development resulting from collaboration among various parties. 'We have proposed several steps to the technical departments and project-owning ministries to ensure that emerging issues are discussed and resolved promptly. I also hope that the percentage of projects that have commenced will continue to increase at the upcoming meetings,' he said. He expressed appreciation to all ministries, the State Government and the technical departments that have successfully expedited the processes of procurement, contractor appointments and tenders for previously uninitiated projects. 'I am satisfied with the cooperation shown by all parties involved in this intervention committee,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Loke: Public transport agencies, companies should be led by professionals, not politicians
Loke: Public transport agencies, companies should be led by professionals, not politicians

Malay Mail

timean hour ago

  • Malay Mail

Loke: Public transport agencies, companies should be led by professionals, not politicians

PETALING JAYA, June 5 — The government's approach of appointing experts and professionals, rather than political leaders, to head public transport agencies and companies should continue, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He stressed that experienced and qualified individuals leading public transport agencies were crucial to ensuring more professional and transparent management, rather than being determined by political interests. 'My stance is that there should be no political appointments in public transport operators. It must be led by professionals. 'We have seen the results; when we appoint professionals and experienced figures to lead organisations, significant changes have occurred,' he said at the Malaysia Madani Intellectual Forum Series 6, held at Menara Prasarana here yesterday. He added that Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) served as proof of professional-led management, as the company had shown better performance and service improvements. The forum yesterday discussed the topic 'Transport for the People: Balancing Affordability, Quality, and Sustainability of Public Transport', and was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Besides Loke, other panellists were Prasarana Malaysia Berhad Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah; and Universiti Putra Malaysia Vice-Chancellor, Datuk Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah. Loke said the improved performance of the national public transport system was the result of continuous efforts to upgrade trains and facilities across all lines, further driven by a professional and experienced management team. Citing Singapore's transport system, he said that although the country was often regarded as having the best public transport, it also faced various technical issues. Meanwhile, Mohd Azharuddin said that Prasarana was now moving forward positively in terms of passenger numbers, operational reliability, and station facility performance. 'If you look at the results, our passenger numbers were very low during the pandemic. However, in the last two to three years, various efforts have been made to restore the situation. 'In 2022, our daily passenger numbers were around 681,000. Now, in 2025, that figure has increased to approximately 1.31 million people per day,' he said. — Bernama

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