Azalina: Malaysia needs AI law to counter emerging threats
BANGI: Malaysia needs a new artificial intelligence law in light of emerging threats, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The minister in the prime minister's department (law and institutional reform) said she has written to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo on the need to look into AI laws.
"The biggest challenge is the issue of AI when they are using certain formats. So that's why I have written to the digital minister to look into more AI laws and related things for our country.
"There should be a joint committee between the Legal Affairs Division and the Digital Ministry on laws on AI," she told reporters after launching the National Legal Academy here today.
Azalina said the only detailed AI legislation that exists in the world today is the European Union AI Act.
She said the country would have to study the AI law, among others, to see how it could be used in the Malaysian context.
On the Legal Affairs Division's part, she said they have different committees chaired by seasoned and retired judges, looking into various situations as the world is shifting towards a different platform.
"One of the issues that we have today is that we want to digitalise the court. Now we have the voice-to-text system, and then we have a lot of online systems.
"What we want is for the court to be more efficient," she said.
Earlier this month, Gobind was reported to have said that a full report related to regulatory proposals and the possible drafting of specific laws for AI is in the works.
He had said the report is currently being finalised by the National AI Office (NAIO), which was established by the Digital Ministry last year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Trump: Iran has 2 weeks or face US strikes
JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran had a "maximum" of two weeks to avoid possible American air strikes, as Israel claimed it has already set back Iran's presumed nuclear programme by at least two years. Trump's latest comments indicated he could take a decision before the fortnight deadline he set a day earlier, as he dismissed European efforts to end the conflict and said it would be "very hard" to ask Israel to cease its attacks. A series of blasts were heard in Tehran on Friday as Israel kept up the massive wave of strikes it says is aimed at stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons – an ambition Tehran has denied. "According to the assessment we hear, we already delayed for at least two or three years the possibility for them to have a nuclear bomb," Israel's foreign minister Gideon Saar said in an interview published Saturday. Saar said Israel's week-long onslaught will continue. "We will do everything that we can do there in order to remove this threat," he told German newspaper Bild. As Trump mulls the prospect of joining the war on Israel's side, top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany met their Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Geneva and urged him to resume talks with the United States that had been derailed by Israel's attacks. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said "we invited the Iranian minister to consider negotiations with all sides, including the United States, without awaiting the cessation of strikes, which we also hope for." But Araghchi told NBC News after the meeting that "we're not prepared to negotiate with them (the United States) anymore, as long as the aggression continues." Trump was dismissive of European efforts, telling reporters, "Iran doesn't want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this." Trump also said he's unlikely to ask Israel to stop its attacks to get Iran back to the table. "If somebody's winning, it's a little bit harder to do," he said. Any US involvement would likely feature powerful bunker-busting bombs that no other country possesses to destroy an underground uranium enrichment facility in Fordo. On the streets of Tehran, many shops were closed and normally busting markets largely abandoned on Friday. Since Israel launched its offensive on June 13, targeting nuclear and military sites but also hitting residential areas, Iran has responded with barrages which Israeli authorities say have killed at least 25 people. A hospital in the Israeli port of Haifa reported 19 injured, including one person in serious condition, after the latest Iranian salvo. More than 450 missiles have been fired at the country so far, along with about 400 drones, according to Israel's National Public Diplomacy Directorate. Iran said on Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. It has not updated the toll since. A US-based NGO, the Human Rights Activists News Agency, provided a toll on Friday based on its sources and media reports, saying at least 657 people have been killed in Iran, including 263 civilians. Israel's military said it struck missile launchers in southwestern Iran after overnight air raids on dozens of targets including a nuclear research centre. In Israel, sirens sounded in the afternoon after missiles were launched from Iran for the second time on Friday. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted military sites and air force bases. Meanwhile, a US Navy official said an aircraft carrier will be moved closer to the Middle East next week, making it the third in or near the region. "This is a perilous moment, and it is hugely important that we don't see regional escalation of this conflict," said Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who earlier stated "Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon." The International Atomic Energy Agency said that while Iran is the only country without nuclear weapons to enrich uranium to 60 per cent, there was no evidence it had all the components to make a functioning nuclear warhead. "So saying how long it would take for them, it would be pure speculation because we do not know whether there was somebody... secretly pursuing these activities," agency chief Rafael Grossi told CNN. "We haven't seen that and we have to say it." Arab League foreign ministers gathered in Istanbul late Friday to discuss the war, Turkish state news agency Anadolu said, on the eve of a weekend gathering of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Switzerland announced it was temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran, adding that it would continue to fulfil its role representing US interests in Iran.--AFP
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Construction safety goes digital in Penang LRT project
With the Penang light rail transit (LRT) project, Mutiara Line, starting construction soon, Gamuda has come to town with its proven Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) framework, which is powered by cutting-edge digital innovation. Having decades of experience in building mega infrastructures, the Malaysian construction giant has long developed comprehensive tech-driven safety protocols implemented across regional projects, including the completed Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) Kajang and Putrajaya Lines, the ongoing Sydney Metro West in Australia, and Singapore's Defu Station and Tunnels. The same proven award-winning SHE framework is now being implemented on the recently awarded Penang Mutiara Line. We hope this framework will contribute to efficient operations and the successful delivery of this much-anticipated LRT project for the residents of Penang. By integrating advanced technologies and fostering a culture of shared responsibility, Gamuda is not only building infrastructure but also safeguarding lives and the safety of workers, protecting Penang's communities and the environment, as well as reinforcing trust in the state's progress. Each worker has a unique QR code on their certification card and by scanning them, safety and health officers will instantly know if they are authorised to be on-site. This commitment ensures that the Mutiara Line will be a model of responsible construction, aligning with Penang's vision for sustainable urban development towards a vibrant and better-connected future, which promises enhanced mobility and economic growth. Safety tech for strong compliance Gamuda's approach to safety represents a significant change from reactive enforcement to proactive self-regulation, where all stakeholders share SHE responsibilities. Advanced technologies are integrated at every stage of its safety protocols in the Penang LRT project, from workers' training and site access to machinery inspections, monitoring, evaluation and measurement methodologies. This systematic and risk-based approach has delivered tangible results – a 75% reduction in Lost Time Injuries (LTI) in past projects compared to earlier project phases and industry benchmarks, demonstrating the effectiveness of the digital-first safety methodology. Project-specific safety training, digital passports for site entry Every individual, from long-term workers and personnel to short-term hires, must have basic safety training before setting foot on any of Gamuda's construction sites. This fundamental requirement is especially crucial given the local construction market's predominantly low-skilled labour force, making comprehensive safety training critical. Safety and health officers can regularly check machinery and temporary structures and get their safety status on the spot, minimising safety risks especially for high-risk activities. While basic training is a prerequisite for all who enter the site, the Penang LRT project sets itself apart from others by requiring further mandatory training for those working on high-risk activities, such as lifting and hoisting, scaffolding, or operating plant and machinery. This tiered approach ensures that the appropriate competency level matches the specific risks workers will encounter. To date, over 20,500 personnel have been certified through Gamuda's digitalised competency- based Safety Passport Scheme. Even workers holding a Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) green card are required to attend a SHE Induction that covers legal requirements, policies, roles, risks, and best practices to obtain a blue card. For those engaged in high-risk activities, a grey card is mandatory. Meanwhile, supervisors, managers, and senior management are issued with the black card, a certification derived from the rigorous UK Site Management Safety Training Scheme module. The group has digitised its training and certification process, offering structured training at dedicated Training Centres and tablet-based assessments, with instant results upon completion and immediate re-test options. The training modules are mainly in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese, while also covering multiple languages to cater for workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar and Vietnam. Successful candidates are issued blue, grey, or black certification cards, each equipped with a unique QR code that functions as a digital passport. This digital passport scheme is integrated with AI-powered access control technology, ensuring that workers can only access areas for which they are certified. Consistent with its digital safety approach in regional projects like Australia, Singapore and Taiwan; all project and construction data are unified on a single dashboard. Delivering real-time, quick actionable insights for senior and project management teams. Safety and health officers can regularly check machinery and temporary structures and get their safety status on the spot, minimising safety risks especially for high-risk activities. Facial recognition and digital tracking of workers' competency All Gamuda construction sites, including those in the Penang LRT project, use Access Control Systems (ACS) with advanced facial recognition technology, similar to airport immigration checkpoint systems. Workers' facial data, certification status and relevant details are embedded within their QR code, ensuring only authorised personnel with the right skills and safety training can access work areas relevant to them and attend the daily Pre-Task Talks (PTT) before commencing their duties. The PTT, mandatory standard practice in the construction industry, are held before work begins to ensure all team members understand the day's tasks and the associated safety measures. What sets the process apart from other sites is that the workers' attendance in PTTs in the Penang LRT project is tracked digitally. Safety and Health Officers (SHOs) may conduct ad hoc checks on workers' validity by scanning their QR codes anytime and anywhere on the construction site, ensuring workers stay within certified work areas and as a result reduce accident risks at the sites. Higher accountability for machinery safety compliance via QR codes Another key safety feature introduced is the digital certification of all on-site equipment and machinery, resulting in a paperless project management. After a thorough inspection, each machinery used in the Penang LRT construction receives a QR code, which provides instant verification of safety compliance. These QR codes are generated via digital forms on the Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) platform. SHOs can quickly scan these QR codes during inspections, immediately flagging non-compliant machinery or temporary structures for rectification or removal, thus maintaining consistent safety oversight. Data-driven project management for efficiency and risk management Gamuda has introduced advanced digital tools to enhance project efficiency and accountability, namely Gamuda Digital Operating System (GDOS) and ACC. They consolidate data from various platforms into a unified, cloud-based ecosystem, creating fully paperless projects that enable robust governance and comprehensive record-keeping. This system enables real-time tracking of SHE statistics, contractors' progress, and facilitates issue resolution through prioritisation and heatmaps. This allows senior management to gain actionable insights for proactive safety management rather than reactive responses. GDOS and ACC also support modules for quality, safety, operations, and cost management. Carrot-and-stick approach to safety audits for subcons Gamuda's safety governance operates on a simple yet impactful principle- safety performance directly impacts payment schedules. Monthly safety audits form the backbone of this system, with subcontractors required to achieve minimum safety scores for their SHE Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This 'carrot-and-stick' approach ensures the entire supply chain is financially incentivised to prioritise safety as a core objective, rather than treating it as an afterthought. Conversely, poor performance triggers structured escalation from initial observations to non-compliance reports, stop work orders, and ultimately, financial penalties. Furthermore, Gamuda addresses safety compromises before they occur by explicitly listing safety requirements as separate line items in the Bill of Quantities (BoQ). This approach prevents subcontractors from under-pricing safety measures during tender submissions – an unfortunate industry practice that often leads to corners being cut during project execution. In the long run, the practice should make safety an internalised culture for all contractors in the construction sector. Industry recognition and UK awards Over time, the Group's digital and systematic approach to safety has improved contractors' performance and worker competency. Most importantly, it has fostered a culture of shared ownership throughout its entire workforce and supply chain. Gamuda's safety practices have garnered industry recognition with commendations from the CIDB and Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in Malaysia. These initiatives have been benchmarked internationally, having received multiple awards, including the National Occupational Safety and Health Award and international Distinction Awards from the British Safety Council for KVMRT projects.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Dr Wee: Top brass will weigh grassroots' views on future of MCA
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA's top leadership will take into account feedback from the grassroots before making any decision on the party's future direction, says party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. He was responding to resolutions passed unanimously by several MCA divisions during their annual general meetings calling for Barisan Nasional (BN) to be dissolved. MCA's 191 divisions are currently holding meetings to propose resolutions on the party's future. The resolutions urged the party to transform itself into an independent national political entity and contest future general elections under the MCA logo. They also firmly rejected any form of political cooperation with DAP. Dr Wee said the MCA Central Committee would carefully consider the views expressed by grassroots members. 'The party leadership will listen to the voices on the ground. I myself have visited several states to engage with members and hear their views. (Left to Right) Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, Michael Soo and Raphael Tay delivering a special address and attending the book launch of Malaysia Business Law Review at a talk on Navigating the Impact of Tariffs on China-Malaysia Trade. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star 'When the time comes to decide, the Central Committee will make its decision,' he said after attending the Malaysian Business Law Review book launch yesterday. Dr Wee said June is the month when MCA state-level divisions hold their annual general meetings, and these provide a good opportunity to gauge wider sentiments. Dr Wee stressed that while the leadership respects the grassroots members' views, the party's immediate focus is preparing for the upcoming state elections. 'With a few state polls approaching, MCA's priority now is to be well-prepared for those contests,' he said. All MCA divisions across the peninsula and in Sabah are currently convening for their annual general meetings (AGMs), with state-level AGMs scheduled for next month. The party does not have a presence in Sarawak. However, Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in an earlier statement said he was confident that MCA would remain in the coalition, despite possible calls within the party to push for a departure. Meanwhile, on the tariffs imposed by the US administration on Malaysian goods, Dr Wee, who is also Ayer Hitam MP, said the three-month grace period would end on July 9. 'Only then will we fully understand the extent of the impact. Negotiations are ongoing, and I wish Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who is currently in Washington DC leading the talks, and the Malaysian delegation all the best,' he said. Dr Wee pointed out that Malaysia's trade deficit with the US stands at just 5.6% – a far cry from the 47% figure previously cited by American officials. 'There is a significant disparity in the data. Dialogue is the way forward that would serve the interests of both nations.' Malaysia faces a 24% tariff on certain exports to the US unless both sides can reach an agreement before the 90-day pause. Separately, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed that ongoing negotiations with the US over its unilateral tariffs are progressing well. Earlier, Dr Wee officiated the launch of the Malaysian Business Law Review, a joint publication by RDS Partnership and DeHeng Law Office. The book aims to provide Chinese investors with accessible, Mandarin-language insights into Malaysia's business legal landscape. He said the book's focus on key areas such as corporate law, intellectual property, taxation and employment law makes it a valuable reference for investors. 'The use of Mandarin enhances accessibility for Chinese-speaking legal professionals and helps position Malaysian legal perspectives within the broader Belt and Road legal discourse,' he said.
