Day: June 1, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, A comprehensive discussion among four key ministries has been held to strategise and develop an action plan for the implementation of the second 5G network, says Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said the discussion held this afternoon involved the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Digital, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry, with a focus on the functions and roles of the four ministries in ensuring the successful implementation of the dual network model.

‘The government is committed to implementing the second 5G network and will ensure the sustainability of the telecommunications ecosystem with the aim of further strengthening the economic position and quality of life of the people,’ he said in a Facebook post tonight.

Besides Fahmi, the discussions were attended by Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, and Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz
.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, The field of artificial intelligence (AI) in Malaysia needs to be applied with the values of ‘turath Islam’ (Islamic scholarly tradition), and not completely guided by the Western model, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said that the skills and development of AI progress in the country need to be filled with the treasures of knowledge and the legacy of Islam, to be used as a corpus (a collection of research materials) so that the development of technology goes hand in hand with ‘adab’ (manners) and ‘akhlak’ (morality).

Anwar said that the knowledge contained in AI technology is currently based on materials from Western countries because the technology was developed by them.

‘My concern in Malaysia, in developing AI, the values embedded (in AI) are Western values and thinking. Although AI is considered neutral as the whole corpus of knowledge can be included, and when there is a question, the answer appears to be complete.

Therefore, he said that the Islamic intellectual tradit
ion must be included so that the AI applied in Islamic countries does not stray from the Islamic moral system and values.

Anwar said this when officiating the Riyadhu As-Salihin Appreciation Seminar, in conjunction with the Selangor Turath Islami Festival, at Dewan Syarahan and Muzakarah Islam in Shah Alam, today.

Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari; Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek; and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

Anwar also commended the Selangor government for organising an Islamic heritage festival to revive the masterpieces of Islam, and at the same time nourish the culture of love of knowledge in the country.

‘What is being done in Selangor is interesting, and it maintains a tradition of (obtaining) knowledge in the old ways, such as pondok and sheikhs (teachers) come to read the book and discuss the contents.

‘In the world of social media now, knowledge (can be obtained) in one to three minutes. Wherea
s in Islam, the tradition of seeking knowledge, one must read, study and appreciate,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Amirudin said that Selangor is committed to mainstreaming ‘turath’ through the establishment of the Turath Academy, under the management of the State Mosque – Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.

He said that the state government had also compiled a syllabus in the form of talaqqi, which is face-to-face learning, with teachers or religious scholars in mosques, and for a start, it would be implemented in nine districts in Selangor.

‘We are aware that in modernity and the limitations of time, especially when faced with political crisis, economic, social and globalisation crises, many of us are nearly drowned while searching for a branch to cling to, so that some of us fall into extremism, fanaticism and racism.

‘So the time has come for us to present something better than a fragile branch, and in this context, we present turath as a pillar to the people,’ he said.

At the event, the Prime Minister
also launched the translation of Kitab Ihya’ Ulumuddin (five volumes) and 40 Hadith, into Malay, which are recommended to be taught in surau and mosques, as part of efforts to educate and provide understanding to the younger generation about the treasures of turath.

The second edition of the Selangor Turath Islami Festival, from May 26 to tomorrow, aims to revive turath in the daily life of Muslims in the archipelago.

The festival features the world’s leading scholars, namely the former Grand Mufti of Egypt, Professor Dr Ali Jum’ah, who picked the ‘Riyadhu as-Salihin’ and ’40 Hadith’ by Al-Imam Yahya Sharaf al-Nawawi, to be studied and appreciated.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, A contemporary art exhibition themed ‘ARTCONOMICS: Ali Nurazmal Yusoff’s 8th Solo Exhibition’, an exploration of the dynamic relationship between art and economy, will be held from tomorrow until July 2 at the University Malaya Art Gallery (UM).

UM said in a statement that the objective of this exhibition, among others, is to increase students’ awareness of the role of artistic expression in the dynamic fabric of the economy.

The exhibition is organised by the University of Malaya Economics Society (Pekuma) in collaboration with the UM Art Gallery.

‘The idea of ??this project was inspired by Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s article when he assumed the position of Minister of Finance in 2021 and this exhibition will be personally inaugurated by the Minister (Tengku Zafrul) of Investment, Trade and Industry tomorrow at 12 noon,’ said the UM statement.

ARTCONOMICS also exhibits 43 pieces of ‘Imitation Art Maestro’ Ali Nurazmal Yusoff’s best works from the 1990s until now, with the artist
famed for imitating the style of medieval artist Caravaggio’s Baroque realism of intense chiaroscuro, to mix past and present with contemporary elements like Manchester United and the modern handphone.

In addition, there will be a forum themed ‘Relevance between Art and Economy’ to open up a space for academic and intellectual discussion.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Barisan Nasional (BN) will organise a national-level Convention and Diamond Jubilee celebration this July, said its Secretary-General Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir.

He said that the date and location of the convention and celebration will be announced later after BN holds discussions in its Supreme Council meeting.

According to Zambry, various programmes are planned for this year’s 50th anniversary celebration, including state-level conventions to be held in Johor and Kelantan on June 8, followed by Terengganu and Pahang on June 15, while for other states will be scheduled later.

‘BN will also organise a series of forums, discourses and townhalls to be held at state and central levels to foster discussions and refresh thinking as well as good political discourse for the country.

‘We will invite various groups including the younger generation and thinkers to hear voices and views to strengthen BN for the next decade,’ he told a press conference after a pre-launch of the celebration at th
e World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, today.

He said that BN will also publish and launch a special document detailing the history of the colaition’s struggle from its inception to the present.

Meanwhile, on the upcoming Sungai Bakap state seat by-election, he said the coalition parties under the Unity Government will hold discussions regarding the candidate to contest.

“Usually in such situations, we discuss, there may be a desire to field a candidate, the party (BN) may want to field a candidate, all parties are interested but ultimately we will make a joint decision.

‘In the tradition of Barisan Nasional and in the context of today’s government, we need to have a spirit of mutual respect and if we know under whose seat it falls under, we will discuss it properly,’ he said.

The Sungai Bakap seat became vacant following the death of its incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff, 56, from PAS, on May 24 due to inflammation in the stomach.

The Election Commission will hold a Special Meeting on June 6 to decide on the imp
ortant dates for the Sungai Bakap by-election.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA TERENGGANU, The Community Skills Development Programme (PPKK), initiated by the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia) has successfully produced 99 craft entrepreneurs in Terengganu.

Terengganu Kraftangan Malaysia director Md Azrul Hussein said it involved eight types of craft products including sal leaf weaving, batik blocks, mengkuang weaving, batik stitching and forest products.

He said apart from these, a total of 14 master craftsman or ‘adiguru’ in the fields of textile, metal and forest products from the state have been appointed to contribute their expertise and share their skills with the community in an effort to improve socioeconomic standards through craft production.

“PPKK was established in 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic which affected many people’s jobs and sources of income,’ he said when contacted..

“Due to this, Kraftangan Malaysia took the initiative to involve the community comprising housewives, asnaf and young people directly with craft compani
es to generate main or side incomes.”

Md Azrul said Kraftangan Malaysia’s Terengganu branch is this year targeting an increase in the number of craft entrepreneurs with the organisation of two PPKK programmes.

One of the programmes is sal leaf weaving which has a potential and is in high demand, but faces problems due to a shortage of artisans.

“Apart from this, we will also implement the block batik programme which has a high demand. There will be two phases for each programme, with an allocation for one course ranging from RM9,000 to RM10,000.

“In addition to courses and training, we also help in terms of promotions by taking craft entrepreneurs to entrepreneurial expositions or carnivals to market their products,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency