16/05/2025

FRIDAY | MAY 16, 2025

3 Harness AI usage to boost productivity, govt staff told

Govt to strengthen youth initiatives, says DPM

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Md Othman, and the military adviser to the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the UN Colonel Shamsuri Noordin attended the award ceremony. On Wednesday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin reaffirmed the country’s continued commitment to supporting the WPS agenda in line with the UGPS. – Bernama citing X (formerly Twitter), which now includes an AI tool Grok, that analyses posts and adds factual context when false information is detected. He noted that the government previously launched an AI-driven fact-checking chatbot called Aifa to curb fake news on WhatsApp, following a survey that revealed many Malaysians rely on the app for news updates. “AI can be a powerful tool against misinformation, but it must be used responsibly,” he stressed. At the awards ceremony, 541, including one medal recipient, from the ministry and its peninsula based agencies, were honoured. “Receiving such an award should not breed complacency. It must serve as a benchmark for even better service. From here, our performance must continue to rise,” he said. Also present were Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, its secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, and Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin. On Asean, Fahmi said the government is actively leading high-level discussions aimed at securing outcomes that benefit not only Malaysia but the entire Asean region, as the country gears up to host the Asean Summit on May 26 and 27. He said Malaysia is leveraging its role as chair to share its experience in managing cyber and digital security, including regulatory measures applied to international tech platforms. “Recently, we encouraged Asean nations to explore collective strategic frameworks to tackle regional challenges. One such initiative is the development of a ‘toolkit’ to combat online harms. “We’ve seen the damage caused by scams, cyberbullying and the spread of extremist ideologies on social media here in Malaysia.” Fahmi added that Asean’s varying levels of digital development make regional collaboration crucial. “Malaysia is currently the only country to have officially succeeded in licensing an application like Telegram. “We cannot become a truly excellent nation by only looking inward. We must understand and engage with the broader ecosystem, contributing to regional stability and shared prosperity.”

o Tool would help us work smarter, but does not replace need for effort and quality: Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Youth Day celebration is a manifestation of the government’s appreciation for the vital role and significant contributions of young people to national development, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. In a Facebook post, Ahmad Zahid said today’s younger generation is becoming more mature, knowledgeable and intellectually equipped to face increasingly complex and demanding challenges. “Recognising this, the government continues to strengthen various initiatives to expand youth development opportunities, including in the fields of TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training), entrepreneurship, the green economy and the digital economy, so that our young people are not only competitive but also ready to lead future change. “I believe today’s youth are the shapers of tomorrow. Keep moving forward with confidence and contribute with full spirit, because the future of this country greatly depends on your courage and wisdom,” he said. National Youth Day is celebrated every May 15 with various activities held nationwide. “Yakin Boleh” (Believe You Can) has been chosen as this year’s theme. Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, in a Facebook post, called on all youth to remain committed to realising their aspirations and contributing to the nation’s progress. “You are the backbone of the country, drivers of innovation and future leaders who will shape a more prosperous Malaysia. “Let us work together to strengthen the sports sector, foster unity and support the sustainable development agenda. Your dynamic spirit and dedication are the foundation of our collective success,” she said.

KUALA of Communications Ministry should harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost productivity, sharpen service delivery and fight fake news, said its minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. Speaking at the 2024 Communications Ministry Excellent Service Awards (APC) Ceremony for the Peninsular Zone , Fahmi said AI must be used wisely to complement – not replace – human effort and excellence. “I acknowledge the growing challenges, especially for the ministry personnel, with the rise of AI. But it shouldn’t be seen as a LUMPUR: Staff

use of AI tools, especially now that many tasks can be simplified with AI support.” said. He also urged the Institut Penyiaran dan Penerangan Tun Abdul Razak to ramp up training efforts for civil servants in AI usage. Fahmi proposed that a record be maintained of all departments and agencies receiving such training from the institute. In the fight against misinformation, Fahmi highlighted AI’s role in content verification,

shortcut for plagiarism. Instead, AI should serve as a smart assistant,” he said. Fahmi shared his experience using AI tools such as Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot and DeepSeek for work-related queries and decision-making. “Just like how we use Waze or Maps to navigate, AI can help us work smarter, but it doesn’t replace the need for effort and quality. “Ministry staff are encouraged to swiftly understand and make full

Nurul Izzah attending the grassroots engagement event at Dewan Raja Muda Musa. – BERNAMAPIC

Nurul Izzah vows to lead PKR to GE16 victory SHAH ALAM: PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar has expressed strong commitment to lead the party towards victory in the upcoming 16th general election (GE16), outlining several focused strategies to strengthen the party’s foundation and appeal. coalition, rebuilding voter trust and empowering women and youth as key priorities. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said also conveyed her message on Facebook, saying the strength and capability of a nation undoubtedly lie with its youth. “Recognising this reality, the Madani government has formulated various empowerment initiatives to prepare the younger generation to carry forward our beloved nation’s glory. Through the legal and institutional reform segment, the government is also committed to ensuring that every young person is given space, justice and equal opportunity to build a more transparent, and just Malaysia,” she said. – Bernama Malaysia gets top UN award in recognition of female peacekeeper participation As a candidate for the deputy president post in the 2025–2028 party election cycle, Nurul Izzah emphasised the importance of reinforcing ties among component parties within the Pakatan Harapan “Give me the opportunity to lead, and I will ensure we cultivate love and unity among ourselves, regardless of race, religion or faction. If we can rise above ego, frustration and grudges, it will determine whether we thrive, not just for the next year or two, but for the next 100 years,” she said during a grassroots engagement event here on Wednesday night. Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who is also running for vice president, and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the PKR information chief. At a press conference, Nurul Izzah said this time, her campaign is focused on high-impact programmes and meaningful outreach, particularly to women and young voters, while minimising political friction. – Bernama

BERLIN (Germany): Malaysia has been honoured with the UN award that recognises the participation of female peacekeepers in its missions at the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 in Berlin, Germany. The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Headquarters, in a statement, said the award recognises the operational deployment and involvement of

Abyei),“ read the statement. The MAF said the award recognises Malaysia’s contribution to upholding international peace and security on the global stage. Other recipients are Fiji, Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Mongolia, and Tanzania. The MAF headquarters chief of staff, Lieutenant General Datuk Azhan

peacekeeping mission personnel for Malbatt Unifil consist of women. “Besides Unifil, the MAF has also deployed female peacekeepers as military observers and staff for Monusco (UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Minurso (UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), and Unisfa (UN Interim Security Force for

female peacekeepers from the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which met the targets set by the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (UGPS). It said Malaysia is among the countries that advocate the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, adding that 10.5% of the total