Latest news with #Yeoh
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Asean urged to embrace digital tech
- Illustrative photo. - The Nation/ANN BANGKOK: Experts and industry leaders gathered in Bangkok at the 4th World Digital Economy and Technology Summit on Friday (May 30), calling for further utilisation of digital technologies to overcome challenges amid global turbulence and enhance competitiveness in the rapidly evolving digital economy. Under the theme "Harnessing the Digital Revolution for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future", the summit brought together about 200 government leaders, technology pioneers, corporate innovators and academic experts to explore the immense opportunities and pressing challenges. "We are standing at the crossroads of an unprecedented technological revolution. This summit serves as a vital platform to ensure that innovation drives not just growth, but also sustainability and inclusivity," said Michael Yeoh, president of the World Digital Chamber and the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, a Malaysian think tank. "We believe that digital technology can be for the common good of mankind and humanity. Digital transformation can make companies and countries better in the future," Yeoh said. In his speech at the summit, Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president of Thailand's Digital Economy Promotion Agency, emphasised the need for smart public-private partnerships to close digital divides within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, region. Nuttapon said Thailand's burgeoning software and digital service industries hold immense potential to catalyse economic growth and create new jobs. Chonladet Khemarattana, president of the Thai Fintech Association, suggested that countries should leverage technology to make financial systems more efficient and enhance regional cooperation and sustainable development in the digital economy. "Starting with basic services like mobile banking, we can expand to include more services for those underserved," Chonladet said. As artificial intelligence has become a global trend, the summit also included a panel discussion on how AI is transforming business and society. Chhem Siriwat, co-founder and president of the AI Forum and adviser at BowerGroupAsia in Cambodia, said AI is shifting the economy from efficiency to intelligence across various industries such as manufacturing, finance and retail. He called for AI that is not only smart but also wise, advocating for sustainable digital economy practices, transparent governance, inclusive access to AI education, and global cooperation on AI ethics. He stressed the importance of connecting AI transformation to values, ensuring that profit is not the only measure, and that productivity is matched with purpose. Organised by the World Digital Chamber and the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, this year's summit was also supported by the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable as a media partner. The 2026 summit will have an expanded agenda and a renewed focus, including climate-tech and ethical AI. - The Nation/ANN
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Lecturer ordered to pay RM400,000 to Hannah Yeoh
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has ordered Universiti Utara Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff to pay RM400,000 in damages to Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh over defamatory Facebook posts made in 2017. Justice Aliza Sulaiman ruled in Yeoh's favour, stating that the court was satisfied she had proven her case on the balance of probabilities. 'I am satisfied that the plaintiff has discharged the burden of proving on a balance of probabilities that the first and second publications are defamatory,' said the judge yesterday. The defamatory statements were posted on Facebook on May 10, 2017 under the title 'Hannah Yeoh: Contoh Hipokrasi Terbesar DAP' and on May 17, 2017 as a police report titled 'Laporan Polis Saya Terhadap Hannah Yeoh'. Kamarul argued that he was referring to DAP in his first post but did not raise a similar claim regarding the second publication on May 17. The court found that both publications clearly referred to Yeoh. Justice Aliza also rejected Kamarul's defence of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege, concluding that he failed to substantiate them. The court awarded Yeoh RM200,000 in general and aggravated damages for each post, along with RM80,000 in legal costs to be paid by the defendant. An injunction was also granted, restraining Kamarul or any party acting on his behalf from publishing the defamatory words or anything similar. Kamarul, who was not present in court, later issued a statement expressing respect for the ruling but said he would file an appeal soon. 'I will be filing an appeal to the Court of Appeal to challenge this decision on its facts and law,' he said. Yeoh's lawsuit, filed in 2022, accused Kamarul of defaming her by suggesting in the 2017 Facebook posts that she aimed to proselytise Christianity through her political work. The lecturer also referred to Yeoh's biography as promoting a Christian agenda.
Rakyat Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Rakyat Post
Hannah Yeoh Awarded RM400k After Winning Defamation Suit Against Kamarul Zaman Yusoff
Subscribe to our FREE Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has been The court awards RM400,000 as general and aggravated damages to be paid by the defendant to the plaintiff and RM80,000 in costs. Kamarul claimed that Yeoh was promoting a ''Christian agenda'' through her personal memoir titled ''Becoming Hannah: A Personal Journey.'' He claimed she was using her political platform to advance Christianity and turning Malaysia into a Christian nation. Yeoh filed the lawsuit in 2022 over two of Kamarul's Facebook posts. READ MORE: High Court judge Justice Aliza Sulaiman said Yeoh had proven that the posts were defamatory and painted her as a threat to Islam. In a multiracial and multireligious country where the issue of religion is, of course, very sensitive, this would surely expose the plaintiff to hatred, ridicule and contempt. Judge Aliza The judge additionally dismissed Kamarul's claim that his comments were aimed at DAP as a political party because he had explicitly named Yeoh in both his pleadings and the title of one of his posts. Hannah Yeoh. Image: Malay Mail The court also dismissed Yeoh's application for Kamarul to issue a public apology, saying the act could be seen as insincere, but granted her an injunction to restrain the defendant, his servants, or agents from republishing the impugned words or similar statements. When met by reporters, Yeoh expressed her gratitude to her legal team, adding that justice finally prevailed. She reiterated that the allegations were entirely false and hopes no one will resort to ''exploiting religious sentiments or spreading baseless accusations'' about her or her book. The court has acknowledged that the issue at hand involved religious sentiment. In a multiracial and multireligious country like ours, invoking such sentiments is akin to playing with fire. It is dangerous, especially when it involves slander. I believe slander is prohibited in Islam. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh Meanwhile, Kamarul asserted that his statements were justified and will file an appeal to the Court of Appeal in the near future to challenge the decision. READ MORE: READ MORE: Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
UUM lecturer to appeal RM400,000 defamation ruling
rahmat@ KUALA LUMPUR: Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff will appeal the High Court's ruling ordering him to pay RM400,000 in damages to Hannah Yeoh for defamation. In a statement, Kamarul, a Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer, said he respected the court's ruling but disagreed with its findings and the reasoning behind the decision. "Therefore, I will be filing an appeal in the near future to challenge the decision based on both facts and legal grounds," he said. "This process is far from over, and I urge everyone to allow the courts to reassess the matter thoroughly at the appellate stage," he added. Earlier, Judge Datuk Aliza Sulaiman said Kamarul, who served as a special officer to the prime minister from 2021 to 2022, had defamed Yeoh, the Segambut member of parliament, in two Facebook posts in 2017. The court said Yeoh, who is the Youth and Sports Minister, had proven, on a balance of probabilities, that both publications were defamatory in portraying her as a threat to Islam and as having abused her position to promote Christianity in Malaysia. The court said that if Kamarul truly believed Yeoh had committed an offence, filing a police report would have sufficed. Instead, he published the report on Facebook. The court also granted an injunction to restrain the defendant, his servants, or agents from republishing the impugned words or similar statements. In 2022, Yeoh filed a defamation suit against Kamarul over two Facebook posts uploaded by him in May 2017. The suit was filed for the two posts, including one in which Kamarul cited Yeoh's biography, Becoming Hannah: A Personal Journey, as evidence of her advancing a "Christian agenda."
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
This blind Malaysian student is overcoming barriers to build better technology
Since young, Kenzon Yeoh, who was born blind, has had a clear vision of his future – even when he couldn't grasp the hurdles awaiting him, nor the challenges he had to overcome. 'I have always wanted to be an inventor or a scientist of some kind,' says the 24-year-old Penangite. 'I want to create solutions and solve problems for as many people as I possibly can.' This early ambition, undimmed by the challenges he had faced and is still facing, made this young man determined to achieve his goals, despite not having the sense of sight. But navigating the world without being able to see wasn't his only early lesson in perseverance. Yeoh and his three siblings were raised in a modest family, living a humble lifestyle. 'My siblings and I were always told that we need to work hard to succeed in life. I took that advice to heart,' he recalls. So instead of giving in to hardship, Yeoh used his shortcomings to fuel his determination. 'I knew I needed to excel, to show that I am capable of achieving my goals despite my disability. There were many ups and downs in my life and sometimes my visual impairment felt like an insurmountable barrier, but where there's a will, there's a way,' he says. For Yeoh, technology is not a tool but a lifeline. Photo: KENZON YEOH Finding his calling Yeoh is now a final year Bachelor of Computing (Cybersecurity) student at Curtin University Malaysia in Miri, Sarawak. His passion for technology, he says, is sparked by his childhood dream of invention and problem-solving, which brought him to the world of computing, specifically cybersecurity. 'My disability had forced me to deviate from my intended path of pursuing chemistry and other science fields,' he says. However, the widespread use of computer and digital devices has created a new vista for him. 'I realised that this opened up another avenue for me to explore and somewhat rekindled my interest in scientific and technical pursuits,' he explains. His journey to complete his diploma in computer science became a crucial stepping stone that firmly reaffirmed his passion in cybersecurity. Still, navigating university life as a visually-impaired student comes with its unique set of hurdles. 'Access to reading materials, assignments and navigating unfamiliar environments were major challenges,' Yeoh admits. His reliance on technology became paramount. 'I relied heavily on screen reader software, assistive technologies and a strong network of very supportive friends and lecturers.' Yeoh (seated, second from left) with the YTL Foundation team. Photo: KENZON YEOH Technology became his lifeline. 'Screen reader software and assistive technologies are ever-present in my daily life; they help me with my studies and daily activities,' says Yeoh, who enjoys reading fantasy and non-fiction materials, and browsing the Internet. He uses Non-Visual Desktop Access software on his computer that has Apple's VoiceOver in-built screen-reading feature for everything from coding to leisure. This is on top of innovative apps like Be My Eyes and Seeing AI that help him to read documents, identify objects and even troubleshoot technical issues. Beyond software, physical aids like his Braille display, which translates text and mathematical notations and a lecturer's creative use of a 3D pen to render diagrams are some of the diverse ways he accesses information. Yeoh says a significant turning point in his academic journey was becoming YTL Foundation's first visually impaired scholar. 'It was a mix of disbelief, gratitude and motivation when a foundation doesn't see my disability, but look at my potential instead.' The scholarship allows him to pursue his dreams without the stress of financial limitations for both his diploma and bachelor's degree. 'It gives me the courage to step into spaces I once felt excluded from. It is still unusual for visually impaired students in Malaysia to obtain formal education in such a technically demanding field,' he adds. Yeoh (standing, second from right) with his family. Photo: KENZON YEOH A step into the working world His recent internship with YTL Construction marked another milestone. For him, it was more than just work experience; it was validation, although it came with its own set of anxieties. 'I was initially nervous due to uncertainties about what I could contribute to the company, how I would be treated and the possible difficulties of having to move to an unfamiliar environment during on-site duties,' Yeoh admits. As part of the cybersecurity team, he worked on data analysis automation and brought unique insights to the table – insights shaped by a lifetime of navigating the world without sight. 'My perspective as a visually impaired individual allowed me to focus my attention on non-visual details, and due to my exposure to varied technologies, I was occasionally able to provide alternatives to fulfilling some of the company's needs that ended up being faster or easier to deploy,' he adds. Despite his initial fear, Yeoh found his internship experience positive. The foundation, he says, provided support in navigating the new living environment, while his colleagues assigned him challenging tasks. 'They didn't make a big deal out of my visual impairment, giving me meaningful tasks that were at once challenging and rewarding,' Yeoh says, adding that emotional support came from his family, friends and lecturers. 'I've gained many skills during my studies and internship that will help me in my future career, including soft skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication skills and teamwork, as well as technical skills such as system security, programming, testing and a basic understanding of various technology-related fields,' he continues. Yeoh is positive about his future. 'Professionally, my goals have always been rooted in the same childhood passion of solving problems, breaking barriers and helping shape technology that's inclusive and empowering,' he says. His internship experience has strengthened his desire to contribute to a world where progress embraces everyone. 'While I'm still discovering if cybersecurity will be my long-term path, I'm committed to making a meaningful impact, especially for the visually impaired community, but also for anyone who feels unseen,' he says. Yeoh sees his journey as part of a larger movement towards inclusivity: 'In many ways, I hope to carry forward the spirit that real progress includes everyone.' 'That's the legacy I aspire to build, and on a personal level, I just want to live life fully, do my best and hopefully, inspire others along the way,' he says.
