Day: May 24, 2024

KUCHING: The Sarawak government is committed to exploring Artificial Intelligence (AI) to unlock the full potential of connectivity, leading to enhanced efficiency, productivity and innovation in the state.

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the government would continue implementing digital strategies and solutions and provide ethical and transparent government services to significantly improve the quality of life of all Sarawakians.

‘The Sarawak Government reaffirms its commitment to advance Sarawak’s vision to become a digital economy powerhouse for the country and region.

‘We are ambitious and proactive about Sarawak’s digital future and I am optimistic that we will attain our objectives where Sarawak will be a thriving society driven by innovation and technology,’ he said in his speech at the signing ceremony of the SMART600 MOCN Agreement between Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC) with CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and YTL here, today.

His speech text was read by Sarawa
k Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi.

Abang Johari also invited industry players to attend the seventh edition of the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS 2024) from Oct 17 to 18 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.

Themed ‘AI for Sustainable Development: Navigating the Green and Circular Future’, he said the conference this year was looking to gather over 1,500 global leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to discuss key topics such as green tech and innovation, collaborative partnerships, circular supply chains and other relevant topics.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING: The busy schedule of Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil who arrived last night for a five-day working visit to the state, commenced with paying a courtesy call on the Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar at Astana Negeri, this morning.

The minister was accompanied by Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj and Sarawak Bureau chief Hamdan Ismail.

Fahmi then visited the exhibition site of the 2024 National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA 2024), at Plaza Merdeka, here, before he performed Friday prayers at the Masjid India Bandar Raya Kuching, better known as the Floating Mosque of Kuching.

He then spent time with staff of his ministry’s departments and agencies serving in Sarawak, in a luncheon held at the Sarawak Islamic Complex, before attending the SMART600 Multi Operator Core Network (MOCN) Agreement signing ceremony, which was also attended by Sarawak Utility and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Jula
ihi Narawi, at Hikmah Exchange.

Fahmi is also scheduled to attend a special interview session with Bernama, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and TV Sarawak (TVS) this evening.

Tomorrow, he is scheduled to attend a dialogue session with the students at the HAWANA 2024 Excursion with Students programme, jointly organised by Bernama and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), at the Pustaka Negeri.

The HAWANA 2024 Excursion with Students, to be held for the first time, will involve 300 students and will also be attended by the Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and Sarawak Public Communication Unit) (UKAS), Datuk Abdullah Saidol.

In the afternoon, Fahmi will launch the HAWANA 2024 Exhibition involving 20 exhibitors including media organisations from inside and outside Sarawak.

On Sunday, Fahmi is scheduled to attend the Sarawak Media Conference (SMeC) 2024, in conjunction with HAWANA 2024, which will be officiated by the Premier of Sarawak Tan Sri Abang Johari T
un Openg, in addition to attending a dinner reception with the Governor of Sarawak.

Also on the same day, he will hold a meeting with Sarawak’s MADANI Community and representatives from Reporters Without Borders.

Then on Monday, he will meet with service providers under the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA) programme, to be followed by a visit to the ‘Point of Presence’ (PoP) project near the city.

Fahmi is also scheduled to deliver a speech at the HAWANA 2024 Summit in the afternoon, which will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and attended by Abang Johari.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

NIBONG TEBAL, The remains of Sungai Bakap assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff were laid to rest at Masjid Jamek Sungai Acheh Muslim Cemetery, at 6.30 pm today.

Earlier, his remains were bathed and shrouded at the Seberang Jaya Hospital (HSJ), before being brought back to his residence, located near the Masjid Jamek Sungai Acheh, and then taken to the mosque for funeral prayers.

About 1,000 congregants, led by the PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad, performed the prayers.

Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak paid his last respects to the deceased.

Also present to pay their last respects were Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, who is also Nibong Tebal member of Parliament; Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow; Deputy Chief Minister 1 Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid; and several state executive council members.

Nor Zamri, 56, breathed his last at HSJ’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), at 1.38 this afternoon, while receiving treatment for an inflammation in the stomach. He was admitted to the hospital at th
e beginning of this month.

He is survived by his wife Musalmah Yusop and six children.

Penang PAS commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff, when met by reporters, said Nor Zamri was well-liked among party members because of his gentle personality, and easy to work with, and he described the assemblyman’s passing as a great loss for PAS.

‘The deceased liked to help people, do charity and participate in the rescue mission of flood victims because he really liked to help people,’ said the Sungai Dua assemblyman.

Meanwhile, Penaga assemblyman Mohd Yusni Mat Piah said Nor Zamri was a kind-hearted and affable friend, and all friends in Penang PAS were deeply saddened by his passing.

Nor Zambri, who was also Nibong Tebal PAS chief, contested the state elections against Pakatan Harapan candidate, Nurhidayah Che Rose, in August last year, and won with a majority of 1,563, after securing 15,433 votes.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

TOKYO, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today called for heightened empathy and open dialogue between people of different faiths and backgrounds as he addressed the growing threats of obscurantism, bigotry and intolerance that threaten to divide societies and undermine peace.

In his commemorative speech honouring the late Professor Toshihiko Izutsu at Keio University here, the prime minister said that coupled with other factors such as politics and ethnocentrism, lack of empathy gives rise, for example, to Islamophobia.

‘As we pay tribute to Toshihiko Izutsu, let us also reflect on the urgent need for civilisational dialogue in our increasingly fragmented world.

‘By promoting empathy, understanding and respect, we can counter the forces of division and build bridges across cultures, religions and nations,’ he said in his 40-minute speech in front of about 200 attendees.

Izutsu was a Japanese scholar specialising in Islamic studies and comparative religion. He is known as the first and best transla
tor of the Quran into Japanese.

Anwar said central to Izutsu’s approach is his doctrine of empathy in the study of religions, and this empathetic lens is particularly relevant in multicultural societies like Malaysia, where diverse religious and cultural communities coexist.

‘I believe in Japan while there is greater empathy in the approach towards the study of Buddhism and Christianity, as demonstrated by the level and frequency of dialogues, it would appear that it is somewhat lacking in the case of the approach towards Islam.

‘Which is why I commend this university and express my profound appreciation for inviting me to give this oration. In my humble view, if we are to stay true to the precepts and noble examples of Izutsu, there should be greater dialogue as well between Muslims on the one hand and Buddhists and Christians on the other,’ he said.

Anwar further explained that it is incumbent on Muslims to be empathetic towards other religions so as to promote and preserve societal harmony, but empathy
has to be reciprocal.

‘Just as it is so crucial for Muslims to understand and have compassion for other religions, likewise it is imperative that Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and others have that same empathy for Islam,’ he said.

Highlighting Malaysia’s recent effort, Anwar said the country hosted the inaugural international conference of religious leaders early this month where religious and intellectual figures from around the world participated to forge greater religious understanding and cross-cultural dialogues.

‘In a world where populism and right wing ethnic or religious extremism prevail, the calls for empathy may not be the easiest approach, particularly for politicians who want to get re-elected.

‘We are seeing this across the world, particularly in Europe and the United States, which is why the imperative for cross-cultural dialogue is more pressing than ever,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MAKKAH, The Ministry of Transport’s proposal to set up a dedicated terminal for Haj and Umrah pilgrims in Kuala Lumpur is a further boon for Malaysians who already enjoy an array of facilities to perform the pilgrimage.

Head of the Malaysian Haj Delegation for 1445H/2024, Datuk Seri Syed Salleh Syed Abdul Rahman said Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) generally welcomed any effort to improve services for Malaysian Haj and Umrah pilgrims.

“We welcome this proposal as it further enhances the facilities already enjoyed by Malaysian Haj pilgrims since 2017, including the Makkah Route initiative, which allows pilgrims to undergo Saudi Arabian immigration checks in Malaysia itself.

“So far, no other country has such a dedicated terminal, and the Makkah Route convenience is currently available to only seven countries,” he told the media at the TH Headquarters here today.

He made these remarks in response to a statement issued by Transport Minister Anthony Loke yesterday, suggesting that a dedicated terminal be set up for
Haj and Umrah pilgrims in Kuala Lumpur.

Loke added that this initiative could streamline the flight process to Jeddah or other destinations in Saudi Arabia by allowing immigration clearance for Saudi Arabia to be completed in Kuala Lumpur before departing for the holy land. He hoped that the facility could also be extended to Umrah pilgrims throughout the year.

Syed Saleh said that the proposal was currently being carefully discussed by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Tourism and TH, in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian government.

Malaysia was the first country to benefit from the Makkah Route facilities provided by the Saudi Arabian government, with the pilot project starting in 2017. This initiative was later extended to Pakistan, Indonesia, Morocco, Bangladesh, Turkey and Ivory Coast.

The Makkah Route Initiative enables pilgrims to complete their entry procedures to Saudi Arabia in their home countries’ airports, and provides direct transfer to accommodation in Makkah and Madinah.

Meanw
hile, a total of 53 flights to Jeddah will begin arriving at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah starting today, with the first flight arriving at 9:01 am (Saudi Arabian time).

“As of noon yesterday, 43 out of 100 special charter flights have departed from Malaysia, with 12,686 Haj pilgrims having arrived in the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah.

“Of these, 5,380 pilgrims are currently in Madinah, while 7,306 pilgrims are in Makkah. They are participating in various activities organised by TH to prepare for the Haj,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency