Latest news with #MCMC
The Sun
2 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
MCMC acts to fix mobile coverage gap in Kampung Sungai Relai
KOTA BHARU: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is stepping in to address the absence of mobile network coverage in Kampung Sungai Relai, Gua Musang. A recent inspection confirmed the area has no service despite the presence of a 76-metre tower, which is currently used only for microwave backhaul between two towers. 'A cellular quality of service test confirmed there is no mobile coverage in the village,' MCMC said in a statement today. To enforce compliance, MCMC has issued a Section 51(2) notice under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to service providers failing to meet coverage standards. The commission is also working on a solution under the Jalinan Digital Negara (JENDELA) initiative, proposing a new tower site to enhance connectivity for residents. Additionally, discussions are underway with telecommunications companies to upgrade the existing tower to support 4G coverage via fibre-optic connections. This upgrade aims to provide a more stable and reliable network for the community. MCMC has assured continuous monitoring to ensure timely implementation, guaranteeing residents access to dependable communication services. - Bernama
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Fahmi urges ethical use of AI, highlights need for inclusive connectivity
KUALA LUMPUR: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has called for the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) and stressed the importance of inclusive digital connectivity at the International Connectivity Conference and Expo today. In his keynote address, Fahmi warned against the misuse of emerging technologies, underscoring that digital tools must ultimately serve humanity's best interests. "The human mind must remain central, even as AI advances," he said. "When it comes to scammers, they aim to steal, damage, harm and exploit. That's where ethics must come in." Fahmi began his address by highlighting the rapid digital transformation across all sectors, led by a generation raised in the digital era. "What is the point of connectivity if you're not connecting people as a group?" he asked, stressing that inclusivity must remain at the heart of the nation's digital agenda. He said the accelerating adoption of emerging technologies, including satellite systems capable of connecting directly to mobile phones. To support this shift, he said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is considering moving from a single-channel to a dual-channel digital system to enable more interactive, real-time engagement across platforms. On the ethical implications of AI, Fahmi cited the risk of misinformation generated by AI tools. He gave an example of how a prompt could mislead ChatGPT or other AI engines into providing inaccurate information, such as incorrectly identifying Malaysia's 11th prime minister, describing the phenomenon as an AI "hallucination". Fahmi also emphasised Malaysia's progress in digital infrastructure, noting that the country has reached 80 per cent 5G network adoption. He compared this to South Korea, which took five years to achieve a similar milestone despite being an early adopter of the technology. He said that interconnectivity is not merely about technology, but about linking communities and creating shared progress. Fahmi reaffirmed the Madani government's commitment to prioritising human values in the face of digital disruption. "It is our collective responsibility to ensure that AI is not used to bring suffering, but rather to support the well-being and progress of humanity," he said. "Not to create famine and misfortune for humankind."
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Fahmi defends mobile data policy amid privacy concerns in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has challenged critics over perceived double standards regarding the government's mobile data-sharing policy. His remarks follow public backlash against the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) directive requiring telcos to share call data from January to March this year. Fahmi, who also serves as the MADANI Government spokesperson, clarified that the data request was meant to assist the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in national data collection. He pointed out that while concerns over privacy are valid, similar scrutiny is rarely applied to tech companies that routinely harvest user data. 'We rarely question the data we freely provide to social media platforms, search engines, and AI models daily,' he said during his speech at the International Connectivity Conference and Expo 2025. He cited Google's recent US$314 million fine for collecting data from 14 million Californian users without consent as an example of unchecked corporate data practices. The minister stressed that the MCMC's request excludes personally identifiable information, focusing instead on network quality, user engagement, and regional usage trends. This data, he explained, supports evidence-based policymaking, particularly in improving digital infrastructure. - Bernama
Barnama
5 hours ago
- Business
- Barnama
Fahmi Calls Out Critics Over Double Standards On Mobile Data Sharing Policy
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today questioned the apparent double standards among critics of the government's mobile data-sharing policy. He was responding to the strong backlash following the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) directive in June, which required telecommunications companies to provide data on all mobile phone calls made from January to March. Fahmi, who is also the MADANI Government spokesperson, said the MCMC's request was intended to assist the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in data collection. However, the policy has drawn heavy criticism from parties concerned about privacy and data security. He cited the recent case where tech giant Google was fined US$314 million for allegedly harvesting data from 14 million smartphone users in California without their consent. 'Yet, we rarely raise concerns about the kind of data we freely give away every day to social media platforms, search engines, artificial intelligence and large language models,' he said in his speech during the launch of the International Connectivity Conference and Expo 2025 here today. On June 8, Fahmi said the MCMC's request for mobile phone call data from telecommunications companies is aimed at supporting evidence-based policymaking, including enhancing network infrastructure. He said the requested data does not include identities or any information that could be used to identify individuals. He explained that the purpose of collecting the data was to support the official statistics compiled by the DOSM, focusing on trends to gather detailed information about network quality, user engagement levels and the number of users in sub-districts or districts. -- BERNAMA
Daily Express
6 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Why no noise when big tech companies mine data, asks Fahmi
Published on: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 30, 2025 By: Kirthana Arumugam, FMT Text Size: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil looks at a humanoid robot while visiting the exhibition at the International Connectivity Expo and Conference today. (Bernama pic) Kuala Lumpur: Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil today questioned the apparent double standards by detractors of a policy on mobile data sharing with a government agency. Fahmi said there was a lot of 'hue and cry' when the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission issued a directive in June requiring phone companies to hand over data on all mobile phone calls made from January to March. MCMC's request for such data was aimed at collecting data for the statistics department. The policy, however, led to brickbats, including by the opposition and MCA, who raised concerns over privacy and data security. Today, Fahmi pointed out that tech giant Google had been fined US$314 million for allegedly stealing data from the phones of 14 million Californians. Earlier this month, a California court ordered Google to pay over US$314.6 million to Android smartphone users in the state after they filed a class-action lawsuit. The jury agreed with claims that the search engine was liable for sending and receiving information from Android devices without users' permission. 'And yet we made no noise about the kind of data that we give away practically free, every single day, to social media platforms, to search engines, to artificial intelligence, to large language models,' Fahmi said when officiating the International Connectivity Conference and Expo here. In June, Fahmi assured the public that MCMC was not collecting any personal information from telecommunications companies. Nor will the shared data be provided in a form that contains any personally identifiable information. Derek John Fernandez, an MCMC commissioner, previously told FMT the sharing of anonymised mobile phone data was neither new nor intrusive. It also mirrors what global tech platforms already do every day, he said. Fernandez also said the move is consistent with the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and falls within international best practices on data use for infrastructure planning and national development. 'This goes on every day if you subscribe to Google, Facebook – and they have even more than that,' he was quoted as saying. * 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
