logo
PKR election: Up to Nurul Izzah, Rafizi to decide on debate, says Saifuddin

PKR election: Up to Nurul Izzah, Rafizi to decide on debate, says Saifuddin

The Star16-05-2025
PUTRAJAYA: Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is leaving it to the two Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy presidential candidates on whether they want to continue with the debate or not in their campaign series for the 2025-2028 party election.
"Both are well-known figures, and both are assets to the party. Party members know and are aware of both parties' track records.
'So it depends on the candidates to accept or reject a debate," he said at a press conference after presenting the Immigration Department's Outstanding Service Award on Friday (May 16).
When asked to comment on Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli's offer to debate PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar for the PKR deputy president post, Saifuddin said that debates were only one of many campaigning methods.
"It was an offer, not a compulsion," he said.
Nurul Izzah had earlier rejected Rafizi's invitation to the debate.
The contest for the deputy president post is a straight fight between Rafizi and Nurul Izzah, while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim retained the president's position unopposed.
For the vice president position, 12 members have submitted their respective nominations including four incumbents, namely Nik Nazmi Nik Mat (Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability), Chang Lih Kang (Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation), Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan) and Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (Menteri Besar of Selangor).
The political secretary to Finance Minister Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim won the head of the youth wing, Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK), unchallenged, while Fadhlina Sidek (Education Minister) and Rodziah Ismail (Ampang Member of Parliament) are vying for the position of PKR Wanita chief.
The PKR National Congress, including the AMK and Wanita Congress, is scheduled to be held from May 22 to 24 in Johor Bahru, Johor, with the voting for the central leadership set for May 23.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

YTL launches ILMU - Malaysia's first multimodal AI, rivalling GPT-4
YTL launches ILMU - Malaysia's first multimodal AI, rivalling GPT-4

New Straits Times

time8 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

YTL launches ILMU - Malaysia's first multimodal AI, rivalling GPT-4

KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Power International Bhd has unveiled ILMU, Malaysia's first homegrown large language model (LLM) designed to rival the world's most advanced AI systems while embedding the country's language, culture, and values at its core. Developed by YTL AI Labs in partnership with Universiti Malaya, ILMU is fully built, owned, and operated in Malaysia. The multimodal model can understand and respond through text, voice, and vision, while keeping all data within local borders to safeguard AI sovereignty. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the launch at the Asean AI Malaysia Summit 2025, joined by Minister of Digital Gobind Singh Deo and YTL Power managing director Datuk Seri Yeoh Seok Hong. Gobind hailed ILMU as a "groundbreaking Malaysian innovation" that embodies the nation's vision for a tech-driven, inclusive and culturally relevant future. "Built by Malaysians for Malaysians, ILMU showcases our ability to create world-class AI infrastructure while preserving our linguistic and cultural identity. This is more than just technology. It is a step toward empowering our people, our businesses, and our nation in the digital era," he said. Benchmark tests position ILMU as the world's best AI in Bahasa Melayu, surpassing GPT-4, DeepSeek V3 and GPT-5 in Malay MMLU benchmarks, including mastery of dialects like Kelantanese. Across global metrics, it matches frontier models such as GPT-4o and Llama 3.1. Yeoh said ILMU reflects YTL's commitment to innovation rooted in Malaysia's cultural and intellectual heritage. "As we introduce this advanced AI model, we aim to empower every Malaysian with accessible, reliable and culturally relevant knowledge. ILMU is not just a technological leap but a national capability that can power smarter systems, drive productivity and create progress that includes everyone – government, businesses and, most importantly, the rakyat," he said. Beyond the model, YTL has invested in the full AI stack – from local data centres to AI cloud infrastructure in collaboration with Nvidia – and built an ecosystem of more than 10 partners to accelerate adoption. ILMU's guiding pillars – Intelek (intelligence), Luhur (integrity), Malaysia (local identity) and Untukmu (for you) – underscore its mission to deliver ethical, culturally aware AI for national benefit. To drive uptake, YTL AI Labs and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation will roll out the ILMU AI Accelerator Programme, offering Malaysian startups, SMEs and global developers up to RM5 million in free API credits, Malaysia Digital status and facilitation of talent passes and work permits. Early industry partners span automotive, finance, media, healthcare, education and telecoms, including Aco Tech, Ryt Bank, Astro, Media Prima, Yes, Carsome, Swipey, Vision Machina, Vistel, TeeniAI, TrustAI and Mesolitica, demonstrating confidence in ILMU's capabilities and relevance across diverse sectors. For consumers, ILMUchat (AI Chatbot) will be available for early access on Malaysia Day, 16 September 2025.

PM: Ethical, values-based AI vital for Asean's future
PM: Ethical, values-based AI vital for Asean's future

New Straits Times

time9 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

PM: Ethical, values-based AI vital for Asean's future

KUALA LUMPUR: Asean nations must unite in shaping artificial intelligence (AI) that reflects the region's shared culture, diversity and values, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said the 700-million-strong bloc is uniquely positioned to develop AI that is not only advanced, but also inclusive, ethical and rooted in Southeast Asian traditions. "With our extraordinary diversity of cultures and languages, Asean has a generational opportunity to lead in shaping AI that bridges development divides, empowers small businesses, uplifts rural communities, strengthens public services, and expands access to healthcare, education and justice for all," he said at the opening ceremony of the Asean AI Malaysia Summit 2025. Anwar said the region must be "bold and principled" in ensuring AI serves the public good, adding that success should be measured not by technological sophistication, but by its ability to meaningfully improve lives in a sustainable and just way. He said Malaysia's own efforts, under its recently launched AI Nation Framework, would ensure AI becomes "a force for all", driving innovation, better governance and improved quality of life nationwide. The framework focuses on forward-looking policies, a digitally fluent workforce, secure infrastructure, digital trust and strategic investments. "This is more than a roadmap. It is a movement," he said. "Once, highways and ports powered our economic rise. "Now, we will build intelligent highways, secure data pipelines, future-ready talents, and ethical guardrails for AI. "We will get there together, with unity, resolve and unshakable will." The two-day summit at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) in Kuala Lumpur is organised by the Digital Ministry. Present were Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Bakar. Also present were Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn, and Asean delegates, alongside global experts and industry players. The event also marked the launch of ILMU 1.0, Malaysia's sovereign AI platform, short for Intelek Luhur Malaysia Untukmu (Excellent Malaysian Intelligence for You), a homegrown large language model (LLM) developed by YTL AI Labs. Built to understand and process text, voice and images, it places strong emphasis on local context, ethics and safety. The first iteration, ILMU 0.1, was unveiled in December 2024 and outperformed leading global LLMs in Malay-language benchmarks, even passing Malaysia's PT3 and SPM national examinations with top grades.

PM Anwar outlines five pillars for Malaysia's AI Nation Framework
PM Anwar outlines five pillars for Malaysia's AI Nation Framework

Borneo Post

time9 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

PM Anwar outlines five pillars for Malaysia's AI Nation Framework

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivers his keynote address at the official launch of the Asean AI Malaysia Summit 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) today. – Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 12): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today outlined five pillars of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Nation Framework to ensure that AI works for every Malaysian. The prime minister said the five strong pillars are forward-looking policies; an agile and digitally-fluent workforce; secure and reliable digital infrastructure; advancement of digital trust; and strategic investments that will grow a thriving AI ecosystem through public–private partnerships and global collaboration. 'These pillars will drive the Madani Economy, making AI advanced, inclusive, trusted, and built for purpose. 'This is more than a roadmap; it is a movement. The Ministry of Digital, with the National AI Office at its core, will lead this initiative,' he said during his keynote address at the official launching ceremony of Asean AI Malaysia Summit 2025 (AAIMS25) today. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, reiterated that under the recently tabled 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), Malaysia set the ambition to be an AI nation as digital transformation must drive sustainable and inclusive growth. 'At the centre of that transformation is our ambition to be an AI Nation. AI will not be a tool for the few; it will be a force for all, powering better governance, sparking innovation, and improving lives,' he said. 'Through our AI Nation Framework, we will ensure that AI works for every Malaysian, in every corner of the country.' The prime minister also noted that with nearly 700 million people, a fast-growing digital economy, and a rich diversity of cultures and languages, Asean is uniquely positioned to shape the development of AI in a way that is inclusive, ethical, and aligned with the region's shared values. Thus, he emphasised the need for the region to act boldly and with foresight in seizing this generational opportunity. 'If we approach this moment with foresight and courage, AI can bridge development divides, empower small businesses, uplift rural communities, strengthen public services, and expand access to healthcare, education, and a more pronounced justice for all. 'Our vision is not only to harness AI just to catch up with the rest of the world, but to lead in some areas, to protect our values, to give meaning to the principle of equity and justice,' he added. On Malaysia's part, he said that the country has made bold and confident strides in digitalisation and AI, citing the creation of a dedicated Digital Ministry as a major step forward. – Bernama AI Nation Framework Anwar Ibrahim artificial intelligence digitalisation

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store