Latest news with #LeeLamThye
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
AI oversight needed to ensure fairness, accountability, and inclusivity, says Lee Lam Thye
KUALA LUMPUR: The Alliance for a Safe Community has called for clear, forward-looking regulations and a comprehensive ethical framework to ensure artificial intelligence (AI) development prioritises fairness, accountability, and inclusivity. "This means avoiding bias in decision-making systems, ensuring that AI enhances human potential rather than replacing it, and making its benefits accessible to all, not just a select few," said chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye in a statement today. The group proposed a regulatory framework including AI accountability laws, transparency and explainability for AI decision-making that impacts individuals, strengthened data protection and privacy standards, risk assessment and certification requirements, and the creation of public oversight bodies. The group also proposed the establishment of a Code of Ethics that is human-centric, non-discriminatory, fair, honest, environmentally responsible, collaborative, and inclusive. He warned that while AI holds promise for healthcare innovations and environmental sustainability, its use must always serve the greater good. Key risks include privacy breaches, algorithmic bias, job displacement, and the spread of misinformation, Lee added. "We urge policymakers, tech leaders, civil society, and global institutions to come together to build a framework that ensures AI is safe, inclusive, and used in the best interest of humanity," Lee added. The group concluded with a warning against a future where technology dictates the terms of our humanity, and called for a path where AI amplifies best qualities for the benefit of all. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government plans to push for a new legislation aimed at reinterpreting sovereignty in light of the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud-based technologies. Anwar added that following the evolving role of governance in the digital era, the traditional notions of sovereignty, designed for a pre-digital world, must be reconsidered to accommodate new technological realities.
The Star
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Govt must focus on safety and asset management, says Lee Lam Thye
KUALA LUMPUR: The safety of personnel and asset management across all ministries must receive serious attention, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said that if personnel safety is at risk due to inadequate measures, efforts must enhance existing assets. "I would like to finally suggest that the practice of Occupational Safety and Health must be given the highest priority by the Home Ministry as well as other ministries. "I feel it is important for assets to be better equipped with safety features such as seat belts," he said when contacted on Thursday (May 15). He commented on the road tragedy that killed nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel in Teluk Intan on Tuesday (May 13). Lee also urged the government and its departments to embrace a safety culture. "The private sector has always been told to embrace the safety culture and adhere to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 and other relevant legislation. "I think this law should be equally applied to all government departments, agencies, and ministries. Only through a safety culture can we prevent more deaths," he added. The concept of Vision Zero is crucial, he said. "Introduced by the International Social Security Association, it aims to promote awareness that all preventable accidents must be prevented. "It can only be achieved if we embrace a safety culture without compromising safety and health issues because it concerns lives," he said.
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Lives lost, lessons learned: Call for safer transport of enforcement personnel
KUALA LUMPUR: The recent crash involving a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) truck in Teluk Intan, which claimed multiple lives, has reignited concerns about the safety of vehicles used to transport enforcement personnel. Experts are now calling for a thorough overhaul of fleet management, vehicle standards, and policy enforcement across government transport systems. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, a member of the National Road Safety Council, stated that while existing laws and industry codes regulate the transportation of heavy goods, enforcement remains lacking. 'We have regulations for overloading, cargo securing, and driver training, but hazardous goods are largely overlooked. Only bulk transport, such as petroleum tankers, is adequately covered. Non-bulk dangerous cargo remains largely unregulated,' he said. He urged the government to adopt Protocol 9 under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit (AFGAGIT), in line with UN-approved ADR specifications, to address this regulatory gap. Lee also highlighted the need for competency-based training. 'Drivers should undergo Dangerous Goods Driver Training (DGDT), a five-day course under the ADR framework. This is not yet mandatory in Malaysia, as the adoption of ADR in the non-petroleum sector is still in its infancy,' he noted. On accident prevention, Lee pointed to the SPAD Industry Code of Practice (ICOP), which mandates the use of GPS and telematics in heavy vehicles to monitor driver behaviour. 'Transporters must track speed, harsh braking, and acceleration daily. These systems are not just tools—they're essential safeguards,' he emphasised. Although mechanical failures are rare, Lee stressed that they still pose a risk. 'Human error is the primary cause of accidents, but issues like burst tyres or brake failure can still occur. These can be avoided with daily inspections and proper maintenance.' Meanwhile, MIROS chairman Professor Dr Wong Shaw Voon argued that transport safety should be viewed holistically. It's not just about upgrading vehicles; the system—comprising vehicles, drivers, roads, and management—must be properly coordinated. 'Transporting goods and people on the road carries inherent risks. To manage these, we must consider lorry and bus operators, logistics companies, and those responsible for managing government vehicles, including the FRU,' he said. Wong also commented on the suitability of FRU trucks, which often lack seatbelts or structural protection. 'These are special-purpose vehicles, not standard trucks designed to carry goods like sand or heavy materials, with people placed inside. Ideally, a bus would be the safest option, as it is specifically engineered to protect passengers.' While acknowledging that FRU trucks may also transport weapons and equipment, he stressed the need for management to reassess safety practices and ensure continuous improvements. 'If given the chance, we could uncover valuable findings. But what's more crucial is what we do moving forward. Even without all the details, we must not let these fatalities go without learning from them. This tragedy should serve as a lesson to prevent similar incidents, particularly one with such heavy casualties,' he said. Wong urged organisations to adopt structured road safety management frameworks, such as ISO 39001. 'For organisations unsure how to manage safety, frameworks like these provide useful guidelines.'
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Distressing moment mother elephant tries to move truck that killed her calf as infant lies dead under vehicle
Video footage captured the heartbreaking moment a grief-stricken mother elephant desperately tried to move the truck that killed her calf. The heavy vehicle collided with the young elephant in Perak, northern Malaysia, in the early hours of Sunday morning. The baby elephant is said to have died trapped under the front end of the motortruck. The elephant mother was later sedated and moved to rejoin its herd while authorities removed the calf's carcass, news reports said. Wildlife activists called on the government to step up efforts to provide wildlife crossings on the highway, which already has signs warning motorists of the potential dangers. Lee Lam Thye, a prominent former politician and wildlife activist, said in a statement to The Star: 'Every year we witness tragic incidents where animals like tapirs are struck by vehicles while crossing roads in search of food. 'These collisions not only result in the loss of precious wildlife, but also pose a significant risk to drivers.' The head of the University Of Putra Malaysia's Road Safety Research Centre said motion sensors, rumble strips, and elevated crossings could help. Teik Hua Law told the New Straits Times: 'These steps can considerably lower crash hazards when combined with improved signage and public awareness efforts.' A total of 2,361 wild animals were reported to have been killed by vehicles since 2020, Malaysia's natural resources and environmental sustainability minister said on Monday. This included eight elephants. Malaysia is one of the world's most biodiverse and animal-rich countries, with more than 360 species of mammals including elephants and tapirs living in its tropical forests. Researchers have established that elephants' emotional characteristics are similar to those of humans. Earlier this year, scientists in India revealed that elephants perform funeral-like practices similar to humans. Researchers in the country's Bengal region discovered five calf burials in 2022 and 2023. In each case, the herd had carried the deceased calf by its trunk and legs, before burying it in the earth with its legs facing upwards. The calves were buried in irrigation canals on tea estates, hundreds of meters away from the nearest human settlements. Post-mortems confirmed that the calves had died of multiple organ failure aged between three months and one year.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Heartbreaking moment mother elephant tries to move truck that killed her calf as the infant lies dead under its wheels in Malaysia
This is the heartbreaking moment a grief-stricken mother elephant desperately tried to move the truck that killed her calf out of the way. The heavy vehicle collided with the young elephant in Perak, northern Malaysia in the early hours of Sunday morning. The baby elephant is said to have died trapped under the front end of the lorry. Heart-wrenching footage of the elephant mother trying to push the truck after the incident was one of the most-viewed items on newspaper websites - and tugged on the heartstrings of many Malaysians. The adult animal was later sedated and moved to rejoin its herd while authorities removed the calf's carcass, news reports said. Wildlife activists called on the government to step up efforts to provide wildlife crossings on the highway, which already has signs warning motorists of the potential dangers. 'Every year we witness tragic incidents where animals like tapirs are struck by vehicles while crossing roads in search of food,' said Lee Lam Thye, a prominent former politician and wildlife activist. 'These collisions not only result in the loss of precious wildlife, but also pose a significant risk to drivers,' he said in a statement to The Star daily paper. The head of the University of Putra Malaysia's Road Safety Research Centre said motion sensors, rumble strips and elevated crossings could help. 'These steps can considerably lower crash hazards when combined with improved signage and public awareness efforts,' Teik Hua Law told the New Straits Times. A total of 2,361 wild animals were reported to have been killed by vehicles since 2020, Malaysia's natural resources and environmental sustainability minister said on Monday. This included eight elephants. Malaysia is one of the world's most biodiverse and animal-rich countries, with more than 360 species of mammals including elephants and tapirs living in its tropical forests. Researchers have established that elephants' emotional characteristics are similar to those of humans. Earlier this year, scientists in India revealed that elephants perform funeral-like practices similar to humans. Researchers in the country's Bengal region discovered five calf burials in 2022 and 2023. In each case, the herd had carried the deceased calf by its trunk and legs, before burying it in the earth with its legs facing upwards. The calves were buried in irrigation canals on tea estates, hundreds of metres away from the nearest human settlements.
