Latest news with #MUHAMADSHAHRILROSLI
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia aims to launch National Address System in 2026, experts urge tech use to bridge gaps
In 2026, Ahmad Aswadi said MCMC aims to develop and launch the NAS system with the goal to make the system fully functional in the following year. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: How do you send a rescue team to a distressed caller who describes his location as somewhere behind a yellow house? For Ahmad Aswadi Yusof, digital innovation and geospatial division head at the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the lack of standardisation in address listings has posed challenges for emergency response services, for example. He cited reports of help reaching people too late because they couldn't locate the address in their system. At the National Address Conference 2025, Ahmad Aswadi said MCMC aims to develop a National Address System as the centralised database for addresses in Malaysia. "It will serve as an open address database where it can be used to update or check information related to addresses. It will also provide information to geocode addresses into coordinates with latitude and longitude," he said during a presentation at the event today (July 16). Ahmad Aswadi also presented a three-year roadmap with plans to start a pioneer project this year by working closely with local governments. In 2026, Ahmad Aswadi said MCMC aims to develop and launch the NAS system with the goal to make the system fully functional in the following year. "NAS will not reveal any personal details such as (homeowner) names. Only number and street name, locality and other address details," he added. Internet of Things solutions provider Favoriot CEO Dr Mazlan Abbas said a number of technologies can be implemented in the NAS initiative, including geographic information system (GIS) to analyse and visualise mapping data for specific information. "AI for example, can be used to make better sense of unstructured information," he said, adding that human intervention is still crucial in the process. Datin Habsah Nordin, head of PETRONAS Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence, shared the possibilities of augmenting AI for the NAS initiative. "Based on training data, AI can provide suggestions to help improve or clean up the data and even merge duplicate entries," she said. She added that Malaysia can also leverage on AI-driven satellite imagery to monitor urban growth and maintain an up-to-date address database in line with rapid development.
The Star
7 days ago
- Business
- The Star
ECRL project hits major milestone
Mega build: Loke officiating the Genting ECRL Project Tunnel excavation works ceremony in Bentong, Pahang.— MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star Breakthrough of Genting Tunnel sets regional railway record BENTONG: Malaysia's major infrastructure project, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), has reached a significant milestone with the breakthrough of the 16.39km Genting Tunnel – a new regional record. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the Genting Tunnel is set to become the longest railway tunnel in South-East Asia upon its completion. 'It will certainly complement international trade by boosting export-oriented industries and making Malaysia more attractive to businesses,' he said at the breakthrough ceremony yesterday. 'Its last-mile connectivity between Kuantan Port and Port Klang will bring the east and west coasts closer together and ease the transfer of goods along the ECRL network.' Loke said the tunnel breakthrough symbolises not only a major engineering achievement but also the fruitful collaboration between Malaysia and China. This milestone, he added, also reflects the strong cooperation among ECRL personnel at all levels, particularly in managing excavation works across the 41 tunnels along the rail alignment. 'The ECRL is also touted as a game changer for the movement of passengers and freight in Peninsular Malaysia. It will link state capitals, key urban centres, industrial hubs, seaports, airports, and tourism zones while integrating with existing railway lines along its corridor,' he said. The Genting Tunnel has also been officially recognised in the Malaysia Book of Records for two achievements: being the longest railway tunnel and having the highest overburden. Speaking at a press conference later, Loke noted that the tunnels were designed with environmental considerations in mind, especially in traversing the Titiwangsa mountain range. 'The tunnels also reduce the need for cutting down trees,' he said. Loke also praised the strong partnership with China, stating that the project's deliverability had been clearly demonstrated. On plans to extend the ECRL to the Malaysian-Thai border, Loke said the proposal is under consideration. 'The distance from Kota Baru station to the border is about 32km. We are looking into the plan, but it is still at the study and proposal stage at the ministerial level,' he said, adding that the proposal may be tabled for Cabinet approval next year. The estimated cost of the extension is around RM2bil. The ECRL project, with a total estimated cost of RM50.27bil, spans 665km and will feature 20 stations across Peninsular Malaysia. The first phase, stretching from Kota Baru, Kelantan, to the Gombak Integrated Terminal in Selangor, is expected to be completed by December 2026 with operations slated to begin in January 2027. Phase Two, connecting Gombak to Port Klang, is scheduled for completion by December 2027 and is expected to be fully operational by January 2028.
The Star
08-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Capital city's crumbling heritage
History preserved: The Railway Administration Building in Kuala Lumpur was first completed in 1917 and currently houses the KTM Berhad corporate headquarters. This landmark serves as an example of how old buildings can be preserved and maintained. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star Lack of upkeep turning iconic KL spots into dilapidated sites KUALA LUMPUR: The Jalur Gemilang flutters proudly from the tall flagpole at Dataran Merdeka as tourists flood the historical square where Malaya proclaimed independence 68 years ago. Just metres away though, a different story is unfolding. A short walk down the road, the century-old onion-shaped dome on the former Federated Malay States Survey Office is cracked. Green moss is spreading along the balcony ceilings, with some stretches looking like they may collapse at any moment. ALSO READ: George Town keeps history alive with two initiatives Parasitic plants have also grown on the balconies of the building at the intersection of Jalan Raja and Jalan Tun Perak. At the Old High Court Building nearby, the upper floors are neglected, with a dome there also looking dilapidated. The iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building, meanwhile, is undergoing a major refurbishment with all but the clock tower being covered by construction sheets. In Dataran Merdeka itself, the stench of ammonia reeks from the Queen Victoria Fountain a stone's throw from the flagpole. Moss and algae have turned the stagnant waters into a dark shade of green and the tiles on the fountain are also broken. The old Chartered Bank Building meanwhile looks like something out of a horror movie. The low-lying fences are rusted, a door is left open on the first floor of the building while discarded wrappers and plastic bottles cling to the fence like unwanted guests refusing to leave. Walking past, one may not even know what the building was, if not for a faded sign board which lists it as a heritage site. A closer look also revealed a plaque indicating the building was registered as a heritage site in 2006. Next to it, the old government printing office shares a similar fate. Several windows on the top floor are completely broken and paint is peeling off its walls. It's a spot most tourists don't even look at. Rubbish is also clumped in parts of the waterway along the River of Life bridge headed towards Dataran Merdeka, with monitor lizards basking there. Architect and heritage conservationist Datuk Hajeedar Abdul Majid said the preservation of such sites was important as they not only retains historic values but also architectural values. 'The architecture we see today is nothing like what we had back then. It shows how far we have come, from a colonial past to the skyscrapers of today. 'A city without old buildings is like an old person without any memories,' said Hajeedar. 'Preserving such buildings will also increase the tourism appeal there,' he said. Asked if the dilapidated heritage buildings could suffer major damage like collapsing roofs, he said it could happen 'anytime'. 'None of us know where the weak spots are. When the roof leaks, water seeps in and onto the timber structures, resulting in them rotting. 'This weakens the structure and when it cannot hold the weight anymore, it will just collapse,' he said. Hajeedar said that, under the National Heritage Act, it was the responsibility of heritage building owners to maintain buildings. Section 42 (1) of the Act states that the owner of a heritage site shall ensure that the heritage site is always in a state of good repair. If a building owner isn't doing enough to take care of a heritage site, the Heritage Commissioner can step in and do the repair work. After the work is done, the owner must pay back all reasonable costs for the repairs. 'Owners, please look into it. It is your legal obligation,' he said, proposing tax incentives to encourage building owners to upkeep their properties in a manner that is identical to its original design.
The Star
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
More targeted policies needed to beef up national food security, says AFPN
Dependence on imports is for some foods including vegetables and fruits. Malaysia still needs to import food commodities such as vegetables and fruits from temperate climates, This is because these commodities are not economical to produce in Malaysia because the price will be higher than imports in addition to the country's unfavorable weather factors and it is affected by the demand of the local market. . — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Policies that are more focused and responsive need to be formulated to strengthen national food security, in light of concerns over rising food prices and the country's high dependence on global supply chains. Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) through the Agro-Food Productivity Nexus (AFPN) said currently, Malaysia still relied heavily on food imports, including in the poultry farming industry. "For example, the Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) for chicken dropped to 90.2 per cent in 2023 compared to 100.2 per cent in 2021, indicating growing reliance on external sources. "Although chickens are farmed locally, the import dependency for animal feed remains high, making the sector vulnerable to global shocks and exchange rate fluctuations,' AFPN said in a statement issued by MPC on Tuesday (July 1). AFPN also said that although Malaysia recorded an improvement in the World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) 2025, the agro-food sector's performance indicators, such as price competitiveness, productivity and innovation, remain slow and lacklustre. AFPN stressed the need for proactive and contextual policy reforms. These include facilitating the entry of new farmers, supporting the expansion of existing farmers through easier land access, restructuring approval processes, reducing bureaucratic red tape and accelerating digital technology adoption in the agro-food sector. MPC director-general Datuk Zahid Ismail was quoted in the statement as saying that Malaysia must remove systemic barriers, open up space for innovation and create an ecosystem that enables farmers to grow and contribute meaningfully to national productivity. "Food security is not just about supply; it is closely tied to resilience and long-term competitiveness. Digital adoption is a key driver of agro-food productivity, but connectivity must be prioritised first,' he said. On June 17, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) announced that Malaysia has risen 11 places in the WCR 2025, moving to 23rd place out of 69 economies, its best ranking since 2020.- Bernama
The Star
22-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Maniam continues to shine as he receives honorary membership with WSF
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) coaching director, Major (Rtd) speak to the media during the Ace Malaysia Squash Cup Launching in Partnership with SRAM in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.— MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
