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The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
When eating durian in a hotel can be a ‘costly' affair
A CHINESE national holidaying in Singapore was slapped with a S$200 (RM659) fine for eating durian in a four-star hotel in Orchard Road, reported Kwong Wah Yit Poh. The tourist shared her experience on her RedNote social networking account on May 26 that she was unaware of hotel regulations in South-East Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia prohibiting guests from bringing durian into the premises. 'Some netizens shared online that they had been fined S$500 before. So, I think S$200 was still a reasonable amount and I requested the cleaner to get rid of the leftover durian in my room,' she said. The tourist said she arrived in Singapore on May 24 and the next day, she bought packets of durian and other fruits and took it back to the hotel as there was no place to eat them. The following day she received a note from the hotel informing that the housekeeper discovered durian smell in her room and that the hotel would impose a S$200 cleaning fee to get rid of the smell. > Taiwanese actress Joe Chen has hit back at those who criticised her over her lack of knowledge on appendicitis, China Press reported. Netizens had commented on Chen's experience of undergoing a surgery in Malaysia to remove her appendix that she posted on her social media accounts on May 27. The 46-year-old hit back on her Weibo account: '... I don't know my diagnosis has become one of the most searched topics.' The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
Free Malaysia Today
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Think about the risks before rushing to use AI
From Redzanur Rahman Like many Malaysians, I was shocked and disappointed to learn that the education ministry's SPM analysis report featured a wrongly drawn Jalur Gemilang. Apparently, the image used, which may have been using Artificial Intelligence tools, showed our flag with two stars! This is a very serious mistake because the Jalur Gemilang is a symbol of our nation's pride. What's truly unbelievable is that this mistake came from the education ministry on the day they announced the SPM results! It's a huge irony. As the ministry celebrates the fantastic achievement of over 10,000 straight A students, this embarrassing error with our flag happened right under their noses. The ministry needs to answer for this, and the people responsible for this oversight must be held accountable. Sadly, this isn't the first time something like this has happened recently. Just last week, we saw similar mistakes which reportedly also involved AI-generated images. Both the Sin Chew Daily and Kwong Wah Yit Poh newspapers published images of the Jalur Gemilang without the crescent moon. Even a foreign company at a baby expo displayed our flag incorrectly in their video. These incidents reflect a worrying trend. While AI can be very useful, using it carelessly without proper checks can lead to mistakes and hurt people's feelings, especially when it involves national symbols. It seems we are rushing to use AI without thinking carefully about the risks. Why outsource our thinking to AI? We must remember that convenience should never come at the expense of truth and responsibility. This principle is crucial because as the recent flag incidents clearly show, unchecked AI can easily produce output that is factually incorrect or deeply insensitive. This failure to uphold the 'truth' isn't just about getting facts wrong; it extends to generating content that disrespects national and cultural symbols or values because AI lacks genuine understanding, which can severely damage an organisation's reputation and upset the public. Blindly accepting AI's output for convenience can also compromise fairness. AI systems learn from the data they are fed, and if this data contains hidden biases related to race or gender, AI might perpetuate or even amplify these biases. This could lead to unfair decisions in important areas like job hiring or loan approvals – directly contradicting the Malaysian value of treating everyone fairly. Moreover, the convenience of using easily accessible online AI tools introduces significant privacy and security risks. Staff might inadvertently feed confidential company strategies or sensitive customer data such as IC numbers or addresses into these systems, potentially exposing this information to misuse or breaches and possibly violating the Personal Data Protection Act. The speed and ease offered by AI cannot justify the potential harm caused by spreading inaccurate information, making biased decisions, or failing to protect sensitive data. This doesn't mean we should abandon AI altogether, as it certainly offers powerful ways to work faster and smarter. However, the key lies in using it responsibly, which involves a few simple but vital steps. Always double-check the AI's output with human oversight. This is the most critical part; treat AI as a helpful tool, like a fast calculator, but remember it lacks human common sense and understanding. Before publishing or relying on any AI-generated content, whether it's text, images, or reports, a person must review it carefully for accuracy, sensitivity, and whether it actually makes sense in the context – no more blindly copying and pasting! Companies need to set clear rules and provide training. This means having simple policies outlining which AI tools are safe to use, what kind of company or customer information absolutely should not be entered into public AI, and the required steps for checking AI work. Staff need to be trained on these rules so everyone understands how to use AI safely and ethically. We must all be careful with the data we input and the specific tools we choose. Always think twice before feeding sensitive information into an AI, prioritise using secure tools (perhaps even private, company-managed AI for highly confidential tasks), and ensure any AI service used respects data privacy and complies with Malaysian laws. The recent mistakes involving our beloved Jalur Gemilang are a wake-up call. As we leverage AI's powerful capabilities, remember that it is only as good as it is developed. AI can never replace the human brain and we should not outsource all our thinking to AI. Redzanur Rahman is a cloud engineer and an FMT reader. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
The Star
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
PM reminds ministries to be more sensitive to national identity elements, says senior press sec
PETALING JAYA: Following a Jalur Gemilang error by the Education Ministry, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reminded government ministries to be more sensitive towards matters pertaining to national identity, says his senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah. Tunku Nashrul said Anwar is concerned over the slew of recent incidents involving errors on the Jalur Gemilang, as it touched on national sensitivities. 'The Prime Minister reminds ministries to show higher sensitivity to elements relating to national identity, especially in official documents involving millions of students and parents,' said Tunku Nashrul in a press briefing broadcast via Anwar's Facebook page on Thursday (April 24). Tunku Nashrul said the Education Ministry is currently conducting internal investigations and Anwar has stressed that there will be no double standards in this issue. 'Investigations are made without taking into account whether it is local media, international company, or government agency. 'The principles of justice and respect towards the national symbol must be upheld by all, without any exceptions,' he said. Tunku Nashrul said the slew of errors involving the Jalur Gemilang is believed to be caused by the use of artificial intelligence (AI). He said the Prime Minister welcomed technological innovation, but stressed that AI must never replace editorial responsibility and quality control by humans. 'Each material involving the national symbol and public sensitivities must be thoroughly checked with respect and collective responsibility. 'AI is a great tool, but if misused, it could undermine national harmony,' added Tunku Nashrul. On Thursday (April 24), the Education Ministry issued an apology for the error in its depiction of the Jalur Gemilang in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Examination Results Analysis Report. The Education Ministry said action had been taken against those involved and a detailed investigation is underway. The AI-generated photos have been removed from the soft copy of the report on the Examinations Board website. Last Sunday (April 20), Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil also called for action after an incident where a booth at a baby product exhibition showcased the Jalur Gemilang without its crucial crescent moon, which represents Islam as Malaysia's official religion. Presently, Chinese language dailies Kwong Wah Yit Poh and Sin Chew Daily are also being probed for publishing a wrong Jalur Gemilang. The Home Ministry is probing Kwong Wah Yit Poh over a Facebook post showing the Jalur Gemilang on April 16 without the crescent moon. Sin Chew Daily also made a similar error in the front page of its April 15 edition, where they depicted the national flag without the crescent moon. Sin Chew Daily had since publicly apologised and suspended its chief editor and deputy chief sub-editor over the front-page error.
Free Malaysia Today
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Yet another Jalur Gemilang snafu, this time by education ministry
The education ministry said amendments are being made to the SPM results analysis report. PETALING JAYA : The education ministry has apologised for a mistake in the design of the Jalur Gemilang printed in its Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results analysis report, the latest snafu involving the national flag. The ministry said a thorough investigation was ongoing and admitted that the mistake was unacceptable. 'We have asked for the analysis report that was distributed earlier today to be returned, and amendments are being made,' it said in a statement. 'This carelessness is unacceptable as the Jalur Gemilang symbolises the nation's dignity and sovereignty. Stern and immediate action has been taken against all parties involved,' it added. The report contained an image of students in a classroom, with a Jalur Gemilang with two stars instead of one hanging on the wall. The flag also only had eight alternating red and white stripes instead of 14. Last week, Sin Chew Daily courted controversy for publishing a graphic illustration featuring the Jalur Gemilang without the crescent moon, leading to a police investigation and the detaining of two top editors. Sin Chew swiftly apologised for the 'technical mistake' and suspended its chief editor and deputy chief sub-editor pending the outcome of the investigation. Kwong Wah Yit Poh is also being investigated over a Facebook post purportedly showing the Jalur Gemilang without the crescent moon. A Singapore-based baby food vendor that opened a booth at a trade show in Kuala Lumpur also recently apologised for putting up a video showing the Jalur Gemilang without the crescent moon.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unity minister says no excuse for flag blunders as backlash grows over missing crescent in Jalur Gemilang
GEORGE TOWN, April 21 — National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang today said that there should not have been a repeat of the improper use of the Jalur Gemilang. He said such offences will only cause disharmony and chaos. 'We don't want a repeat of these incidents, it's when there's a repeat by another that it has become too much,' he told reporters after delivering his luncheon address at the Empowering Education Summit 2025 at Jen Hotel here. He called for a stop on the improper use of the national flag, particularly in the recent incidents where incomplete versions of the flag were published. He said Malaysians grow up learning about the Jalur Gemilang in school so everyone should know what the national flag looks like. 'This mistake should not have happened, I'm surprised and I think everybody is surprised how such a thing could happen,' he said. He said the parties involved should rightly apologise for the mistake and it is now up to the relevant authorities to take appropriate actions. Last week, two Chinese-language newspapers Sin Chew Daily and Kwong Wah Yit Poh faces censure for publishing images of the Malaysian flag, minus the crescent moon. Over the weekend, an incomplete Jalur Gemilang that was also without the crescent moon, and displayed backstage of a company's booth at a sales exhibition, went viral on social media. Numerous police reports have been lodged against all three incidents.
