K'tan govt to settle state water authority's RM61m TNB arrears in stages
State Infrastructure, Water and Rural Development Committee chairperson Izani Husin said the arrears were partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the movement control order, which hindered bill collection.
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The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Teach AI in schools to future-proof workforce, says Sarawak Minister
KUCHING: The Education Ministry should consider introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into the school syllabus to provide early exposure to the subject, says Datuk Seri Roland Sagah. The Sarawak Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said it was important for school children to learn about AI from young to be digitally ready for the future. He said this was in line with Sarawak's policy of preparing its workforce to take up opportunities in new sectors like green technology and renewable energy under the state's post-Covid development strategy (PCDS). "Students must learn about AI from the beginning, so it's for the Education Ministry to consider introducing the subject," he told reporters after opening a programme on AI-driven talent development here on Wednesday (Aug 20). Sagah also said ethical considerations must be included in any AI subject to prevent its abuse. "AI must be ethically exercised so that there will be no decadence in society. The more we know about AI, the more we will know how to prevent this," he said. In his speech earlier, Sagah said AI-enabled workforce strategies would help Sarawak to achieve the PCDS goals of creating 195,000 new job opportunities in high-skill and high-value sectors, raising the median monthly household income from RM4,544 to RM15,047 by 2030 and increasing the skilled workforce share to 30%. He said the goals required a workforce that was digitally-ready, innovative and globally competitive. "When integrated into our workforce planning, AI can identify emerging skill demands faster than traditional systems, personalise training pathways to accelerate competency building and enhance productivity and innovation across every sector. "By embedding AI in talent strategies, we are equipping Sarawakians not only to fill jobs but to create them," he said.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
India, China agree to resume direct flights, boost business links
NEW DELHI: India and China agreed on Tuesday to resume direct flights and step up trade and investment flows as the neighbours rebuild ties damaged by a 2020 border clash. The Asian giants are cautiously strengthening ties against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's unpredictable foreign policy, staging a series of high-level bilateral visits. The two countries would resume direct flights and boost trade and investment, including reopening border trade at three designated points, and facilitate in visas, the Indian foreign ministry said. Direct flights have been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. No date was given for their resumption. The latest statements came at the end of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's two-day visit to New Delhi for the 24th round of talks with Indian National Security (NSA) Advisor Ajit Doval to resolve their decades old border dispute. The border talks covered issues related to pulling back troops both countries have amassed on their Himalayan border, delimitation of borders and boundary affairs, the Indian ministry said. Both countries have agreed to set up a working group to consult and coordinate on border affairs to advance demarcation negotiations, a Chinese foreign ministry statement released on Wednesday showed. It said the mechanism will extend talks to cover the eastern and middle sections of the border. Meanwhile another round of talks on the western section will be held as soon as possible, the ministry said. Beijing also said both countries agreed to meet again in China in 2026. "Stable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity," Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X after meeting Wang. Modi is scheduled to travel to China at the end of this month to take part in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation - his first visit to the country in more than seven years. TIBET DAM A readout from the Chinese foreign ministry said Wang told Doval that "the stable and healthy development of China-India relations is in the fundamental interests of the two countries' people." The two sides "should enhance mutual trust through dialogues and expand cooperation," Wang said, and should aim for consensus in areas such as border control and demarcation negotiations. India said Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had underlined in his talks with Wang India's concerns with regard to the mega dam China is building on the Yarlung Zangbo river in Tibet. Yarlung Zangbo becomes the Brahmaputra as it flows into India and Bangladesh, a lifeline for millions. The dam would have implications for lower riparian states and the need for "utmost transparency" was strongly underlined, New Delhi said. To that, China agreed to share with India emergency hydrological information on relevant rivers on humanitarian principles, China's foreign ministry said. Both sides agreed to engage an expert-level mechanism on cross-border rivers, and maintain communication to renew flood reporting arrangements, the ministry said. Chinese officials had previously said hydropower projects in Tibet will not have a major impact on the environment or on downstream water supplies, but India and Bangladesh have nevertheless raised concerns. Earlier on Tuesday, an Indian source said Wang had assured Jaishankar that Beijing was addressing three key Indian concerns - the need for fertilisers, rare earths and tunnel boring machines. The Indian foreign and mines ministries and China's commerce ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Back-to-back scams cost man RM450k
Cautionary tale: Chong speaking at a press conference about the double scam alongside Liau. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: A scam victim who was desperate to seek legal help got scammed again – this time by a bogus lawyer, says Datuk Seri Michael Chong. The MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head said it all started when the victim, known as Liau, 55, joined a fake investment platform on April 10. 'He had responded to an advertisement by a so-called investment learning platform which lured him with the promise of investing in a purported China-Hong Kong Initial Public Offering (IPO),' Chong said in a press conference at Wisma MCA here yesterday. Tempted by the offer, Liau used his Employees Provident Fund and loans from family members to buy the purported shares. Chong said Liau had been pressured to continue purchasing the so-called shares every time the platform purportedly secured a new IPO, even though he could no longer afford it. In the end, he lost a total of RM390,000 and lodged a police report at the Wangsa Maju police station. Desperate, the victim turned to a 'lawyer' for help through a Facebook advertisement. The lawyer, who claimed to be based in Hong Kong, told the victim that his RM390,000 was detected at a casino in Macau and insisted that the only way to recover the money was to win it back at the online casino. Trusting the story, the victim handed over more money each time the bogus lawyer demanded it under various pretexts. 'I did not think it would be a scam, as I was too desperate to get back the money I had lost,' Liau said. In total, he ended up giving the fraudulent lawyer RM61,500. 'I never imagined I would be scammed twice,' he added. Chong said that this was not the first case involving fake lawyers. Meanwhile, MCA Publicity Bureau chairman and lawyer Chan Quin Er said that Liau was seeking assistance, and the scammer took advantage of his desperation in his bid to regain his losses.
