13/08/2025

WEDNESDAY | AUG 13, 2025

2 Action against drug abuse through illegal vape products

Malaysia, Bangladesh ink eight MoUs

PUTRAJAYA: MALAYSIA and Bangladesh sealed eight MoUs and agreements aimed at deepening bilateral ties across a wide range of sectors, including defence, energy, higher education, diplomacy, halal development and private sector cooperation. The signing ceremony yesterday was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Bangladesh Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus in conjunction with the latter’s official visit to Malaysia. A key document was the MoU on defence cooperation between the two governments, signed by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Bangladesh Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain. Also inked was an MoU on cooperation in the supply and infrastructure of liquefied natural gas, petroleum products and related facilities, signed by Finance Minister II and acting Economy Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and Bangladesh Adviser for Road Transport and Bridges, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Railways M. Fouzul Kabir Khan. Other agreements included the Exchange of Notes on Cooperation in Higher Education and on Training for Diplomats, and cooperation in the halal ecosystem. In the area of strategic research, an MoU was signed between the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia and the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies. – Bernama Syariah-compliant AI launched KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia aims to lead the world in syariah -compliant artificial intelligence (AI) with the launch of NurAI, the first syariah -compliant large language model, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said NurAI builds on Malaysia’s strengths as a global leader in halal certification, Islamic finance and syariah scholarship, positioning the nation to become a trusted digitalisation hub for the Islamic world. “With consistent, strategic steps, Malaysia can lead in syariah -compliant AI, a field that will shape the future of the ummah, built on values and guided by divine revelation,” he said at the launch by Zetrix AI Bhd yesterday. He said the homegrown platform would safeguard Islamic principles while advancing national technological ambitions. “We all know the 21st century is the Century of Data. Whoever controls data controls the narrative, whoever controls the narrative controls the future.” Ahmad Zahid said NurAI, developed entirely on Islamic values, goes beyond processing language to uphold adab (proper etiquette), respect the law and elevate Muslim culture. He said most AI systems are developed in the West or other major powers where priorities often do not align with Islamic principles, and cited studies showing bias or inaccuracies in online content about Islam. “This risk arises when fatwa and rulings are quoted inaccurately or when subtle negative portrayals are embedded. There have been cases where AI contradicted syariah principles or cited unauthentic sources on aqidah . This is the gap we must close.” He outlined plans for a Global Syariah AI Reference Centre, AI integration in Islamic education, applications for mosque administration, zakat management, Quran teaching and international research collaborations grounded in Islamic values. Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Fifty-five cases of drug abuse involving electronic cigarettes or vapes were recorded in the first half of 2025 alone, said the Health Ministry. Citing police figures, it said a total of 64 investigation papers were opened in 2024 on the issue. “Alarmingly, over 70% of these cases tested positive for banned substances such as amphetamines and synthetic cannabinoids,” it said in a statement. The ministry was responding to an Aug 4 report in theSun on sales through online platforms of vape liquids laced with a harmful o Over 70% of 55 cases recorded in first half of year tested positive for amphetamines, synthetic cannabinoids, says ministry Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia. This includes ensuring that devices cannot be easily modified to include illicit or hazardous substances. The ministry has issued a stern warning to parents, educators and the public to remain vigilant, particularly against unregulated or illegal vape products sold online or directly to teenagers, stressing the need for early intervention. “Immediate reporting of such products or related behaviour to the authorities can save lives. The ministry is fully committed to protecting the health and safety of Malaysians, especially the younger generation, from the threat of dangerous and unregulated smoking products.” On Aug 5, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government is reviewing potential amendments to existing laws to combat the growing issue of online drug sales. theSun had reported that “Magic Mushroom” vape liquid, laced with synthetic drugs, is being sold online for as little as RM1 per drop, making it easily accessible to youths and first-time users.

synthetic substance known as “Magic Mushroom”. “The ministry takes seriously the media report published by theSun . These illegal products, reportedly available in the local market, have been linked to severe side effects such as hallucinations, loss of self-control and, in one shocking incident, a student jumping off a school building while under the influence.” The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with police to tighten surveillance and enforcement on electronic smoking products suspected of containing controlled or dangerous substances. All smoking products, including electronic cigarettes and vape devices, are regulated under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) which came into force on Oct 1, 2024. Under Section 3 of the Act, all smoking products must be registered and have their contents declared to the ministry before they can be sold. Only products that meet health and safety requirements will be approved. The government is also stepping up safety standards for vape devices in collaboration with the Standards Department and the

Anwar visiting a booth after officiating at the summit in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/ THESUN

Homegrown multimodal language model unveiled

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

the principle of equity and justice.” He called on traditional religious institutions, once pivotal in resisting colonialism, to help shape the ethical use of AI in the digital age. “At a recent meeting with religious scholars in Kelantan, I urged them to embrace new knowledge and digital literacy without compromising faith and moral values. By defending our traditions and values, we are not disrupting, we are protecting.” Anwar warned that without deliberate efforts to ensure equitable access, AI could deepen inequality within and between nations. “We are now facing a new kind of challenge. If we don’t address it, a gap will emerge between those with knowledge of new disciplines and those without, leaving the latter unable to improve their quality of life. “This is the reality of the digital divide. Some of us are fortunate to be exposed to technology while others, especially in rural areas, are completely cut off.”

local intelligence and languages with world class performance to meet national needs. Intelek Luhur Malaysia Untukmu is culturally attuned, fluent in Bahasa Melayu, Malaysian English and dialects such as Kelate, and built with national interests, safety and data governance in mind. Powered by YTL AI Cloud for enterprise-grade performance and local data residency, it matches or outperforms GPT-4o, DeepSeek and Llama 3.1 in major benchmarks and leads globally in Malay language comprehension. It is also capable of processing and generating text, voice and images, offering real world applications across industries. Anwar said AI development in Asean must be inclusive, ethical and anchored in shared values, guided by the principle that technology should enhance equity and preserve cultural identity. “Our vision is not just to harness AI to catch up with the rest of the world, but to lead in some areas, protect our values and give meaning to

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has unveiled its first 100% locally-developed multimodal large language model, Intelek Luhur Malaysia Untukmu , in a landmark step towards becoming an “AI nation” for all, not just the privileged few. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the model yesterday at the inaugural Asean AI Malaysia Summit 2025, announcing that it would be available for early access from Sept 16 via ILMUchat. “This is a generational opportunity. If we approach this moment with foresight and courage, AI can bridge development divides, empower small businesses, uplift rural communities, strengthen public services and expand access to healthcare, education and justice for all.” Developed entirely in Malaysia by YTL AI Labs in collaboration with Universiti Malaya, it blends