Latest news with #SunwayUniversity
Barnama
6 hours ago
- Health
- Barnama
NCCM 2025: MOH To Focus On Lung Health Prevention And AI
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Health (MOH) is entering the final phase of its National Strategic Plan for Cancer Control Programme 2021–2025, with a renewed focus on strengthening cancer prevention, early detection and sustainable financing. In this regard Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad said the three-day National Cancer Congress Malaysia (NCCM) 2025, jointly organised by the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) and Sunway University starting today, is aligned with the ministry's plan in charting the next chapter of the strategic plan for cancer which is more data-driven, inclusive and forward-looking approach. 'Cancer remains one of the most pressing and devastating challenges in our fight against the pandemic of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). 'According to the National Cancer Registry Report 2017–2021, we now record over 169,000 reported cancer cases, an increase of 47 per cent from the previous cycle. The lifetime risk of cancer has also increased to one in eight Malaysians,' he said during his keynote address at the opening ceremony of NCCM 2025 themed 'Bridging Gaps, Building Hope, Empowering Lives', at Sunway University, Petaling Jaya, here today. Dzulkefly said in response to the rising threat of lung cancer, the ministry introduced the Lung Health Initiative during last year's NCCM which is currently among the top three most common cancers in Malaysia and a leading cause of death. He said Malaysia led the way on the global stage in cancer prevention and early detection with the adoption of the global resolution entitled Promoting and Prioritising an Integrated Lung Health Approach at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), co-sponsored by 15 other WHO member states. 'This is a historic milestone not just for Malaysia, but for global public health. It reflects our belief in a whole-of-planet approach for lung health that integrates prevention, digital innovation, and people-centred care. 'Implementation is already underway, across six states namely Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Pahang, Kelantan and Sabah. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now being utilised for chest X-rays in selected health clinics and government hospitals for interpretation, improving accuracy and accelerating early detection for lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses,' he said. Dzulkefly also commended National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) for extending the effort through mobile AI X-ray units, which help screen underserved communities and workers in industrial settings.
The Star
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
DC outlook intact for now
Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng. PETALING JAYA: There is a possibility that the firms involved in the alleged breach involving Nvidia-powered artificial intelligence (AI) chips may face US sanctions, but such measures are unlikely to be applied to Malaysia, says Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng. Yeah said this is given that many existing data centres (DCs) and those in the pipeline are US-based companies. 'Nvidia, a US company, is seeking new markets to offset its loss of China's market as the Chinese government has banned the use of its chips. 'China is accelerating development of home-grown AI chips, thereby offering an alternative supply unless companies that use them are also sanctioned by the United States,' he told StarBiz. Yeah opined that despite the uncertainties caused by the technological rivalry between China and the United States, the outlook for DCs in Malaysia remained positive given the rising local and global demand for cloud and AI services. 'Malaysia will also benefit from the global firms' diversification of DCs that leveraged on each country's growth opportunities and cost advantages such as availability of cheap energy, land and skilled manpower resources,' he said. According to a Wall Street Journal article, Chinese engineers reportedly flew to Malaysia in March with suitcases full of hard drives containing around 80 terabytes of data to train AI models at local DCs equipped with advanced Nvidia chips. In addressing the alleged breach, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) said, in a statement on Wednesday, it is in the process of verifying the matter with relevant agencies. It reiterated that servers using Nvidia chips and AI chips are not classified as controlled goods under the Malaysian Strategic Trade Act 2010. 'Malaysia will cooperate with any government that requires assistance in monitoring trade in sensitive goods under the export control of their respective countries,' it said. Given that the allegations were made in March, MIDF Research said it could be a move to 'speed up the process', before the eventually rescinded AI Diffusion Framework that was expected to come into force on May 15. The research house is of the view that the pipeline of DC jobs in Malaysia is unlikely to be impacted by the alleged breach. It noted there is no slowdown or delay in ongoing projects and contractors are actively bidding for new DC construction jobs. 'Just last month, Gamuda Bhd sold 389 acres of land in Port Dickson to Google-linked Pearl Computing Malaysia Sdn Bhd and signed a RM1.01bil external infrastructure contract for enabling works for DC development, while Sunway Construction Group Bhd secured a RM1.16bil contract from a US tech giant to build two DCs,' MIDF Research said in a report yesterday. Microsoft recently reaffirmed its commitment to a RM10.5bil investment in cloud and AI infrastructure in Malaysia, including the development of hyperscale DCs in the Klang Valley. 'We also reiterate that not all DCs are AI DCs and while most of them are AI-ready, they may eventually be utilised for non-AI purposes,' MIDF Research said. It cited the example of YTL Power International Bhd which previously allocated 100MW for AI from its 500MW DC in Kulai, Johor. iFAST Capital research analyst Kevin Khaw Khai Sheng said the long-term prospects of the country's DC sector remains 'quite intact'. 'Ultimately, Malaysia continues to benefit from several competitive advantages –such as abundant water resources for cooling, land, skilled labour and a relatively weak ringgit, which makes the country cost-effective,' he said. Khaw added that, due to Singapore's limited access to such resources, he expected closer collaboration between Malaysia and the city-state. Asked if the alleged breach would affect ongoing tariff negotiations between Malaysia and the United States, Khaw said it would unlikely be a decisive factor given that the country is already negotiating from a weaker footing. 'The alleged breach may add a bit more pressure to our position in negotiations. But ultimately, it depends on how our government handles the situation and works toward securing the best possible outcome. 'From the United States' perspective, Malaysia is not their major competitor. It is actively trying to diversify its supply chain risks – especially in light of tensions with China – and is looking for more allies and partnerships with other countries. Given Malaysia's 'neutral' stance and our geographical advantages, we could still be seen as a potential partner for the United States,' he said. Khaw said the construction sector's outlook remained optimistic with the order book environment set to improve heading into the second half of 2025.
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sinar Daily
A night of Russian magic: Cultural concert in KL brings nations together through music
It felt like stepping into another world. For one night, the rhythms, colours, and soul of Russia filled the halls of Sunway University, turning an ordinary evening into something magical. This event, titled The Russian Cultural Ensemble Concert was a cultural feast blending music, dance, and art into a vibrant celebration that brought strangers together, all moving to the same beat. The concert featured nine exceptional performers flown in directly from Russia, treating the audience to 16 stunning performances. From traditional folk songs to violin solos that tugged at heartstrings, every act was a celebration of Russian artistry. The concert featured nine exceptional performers flown in directly from Russia, treating the audience to 16 stunning performances. And then came the moment that melted every Malaysian heart in the room, a surprise performance of the beloved 'Rasa Sayang'. The crowd cheered as the Russian performers flawlessly sang the familiar tune, turning the event into a celebration of unity through music. Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) Undersecretary Christina Yeo lauded the event urging more programmes like this should be done frequently. "Programmes like this should be done more by private sector together collaborating with the government," she said to Sinar Daily. Yeo highlighted how initiatives like these foster people-to-people connections and cultural diplomacy. 'This cultural performance introduced by the Russian Embassy is a beautiful example of sharing talent and culture with Malaysians. Surprise performance of the beloved 'Rasa Sayang' by Russian performance. "It's an opportunity for us to learn and appreciate each other's heritage. Perhaps next year, Malaysia could reciprocate by sending our own musicians and artists to perform in Russia," she added. Yeo also stressed the role of music and arts in uniting people of diverse backgrounds, especially students. 'I was told that some of the volunteers for this event weren't from music or arts disciplines, they were from other fields. It shows that music is universal and can unite everyone, regardless of their background or nationality," she said. Meanwhile, Andrey Potemkin, Director of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture at the Russian Embassy stressed the importance of showcasing Russian culture to Malaysians, given the geographical distance and lack of direct flights between the two nations. 'Russia and Malaysia are far apart geographically, but through events like this we can bring our cultures closer. We have many famous composers and performers and it would be a great opportunity for Malaysians to know about Russian music, literature and language," he said. Potemkin also highlighted past collaborations, such as the Islamic Film Festival organised in Shah Alam and Johor, where Russian cinema producers shared stories of love, family and societal issues common to both cultures. From traditional folk songs to violin solos that tugged at heartstrings, every act was a celebration of Russian artistry. 'Russia is home to 20 million Muslims and our Islamic culture has much in common with Malaysia's. It's a connection we want to continue exploring," he said. Looking ahead to Visit Malaysia Year 2026, Potemkin expressed high hopes for deeper cultural relationship between Russia and Malaysia 'Malaysia is becoming very popular among Russians. I hope more Russian groups, artists and performers will visit not just Kuala Lumpur but other cities as well. "Malaysians have shown a genuine appreciation for Russian culture and we aim to keep this connection alive through music, cinema and other art forms," he said.
The Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Student-led community upliftment at Desa Mentari
WHEN Professor Dr Mahendhiran Sanggaran Nair, currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor(Research and Sustainability), at Sunway University first visited the Desa Mentari flats known as Project Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), occupied by residents from the B-40 community, his first thoughts were to transform the community through student-led initiatives. Over three years, from 2022, the public housing scheme, located along the Federal Highway in Klang Valley, has been part of a community initiative led by 1800 Sunway university students. They are supported by the Tan Sri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. Community service has also successfully been embedded into the course curriculum for the university. 'The Sunway students are privileged to receive a good education. However, I believe with privilege comes responsibility, and with their education and opportunities, they too can make a difference in improving the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, especially when they are located so close to Sunway University,' he said. The scenes of poverty and poor living standards coupled with the deplorable state of the buildings galvanised Mahendhiran and his Sunway team into preparing a blueprint for the sustainable development of the Desa Mentari flats and its occupants, giving them opportunities in education, creating green and safe spaces, encouraging sports and social cohesion and finally to make a positive impact on the community. Fast forward to 2025, the Sunway Desa Mentari Community Development Programme today has helped transform the community of more than 26,000 residents, where households earn less then RM5000, into resilient communities through various youth skills development programmes. Plans for equipping children and youth with ICT skills, financial literacy, language communication, culinary arts and food safety, basic coding and AI literacy, will emsure their confidence and self-estem improves with time. There is also in the pipeline new initiatives such as a community mobile library providing reading materials and literacy support for the children in the community, as well as an urban farm educational programme, fostering awareness on food production. This is laying the groundwork for a more resilient empowered community who can grow their own food for consumption. 'I took Sunway President, Professor Dr Sibrandes Poppema and other university leaders to visit Desa Mentari, and the community leaders from Desa Mentari gave us a 20-page document highlighting the challenges they faced. Both Sibrandes and Tan Sri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah are supportive of working with the community. 'We are also mindful that the Desa Mentari community could teach our students and academics how to design effective teaching, learning and research tools for community development programmes. 'These initiatives will also provide a window of opportunity to help policy-makers, government agencies and non-governmental organisations find effective ways to address the needs of urban poor communities. 'A key feature of the Sunway Desa Mentari programme is to provide the community, especially the youth, with education, capability development and mentorship that empowers them to chart their own journey. 'If we do not address these issues and challenges faced by the community of Desa Mentari, the youth will be influenced by other negative social ills,' said Mahendhiran, who credits his father with having instilled in him the importance of a good education and its long term benefits. 'Education is a key component in uplifting any B-40 community.'
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
‘Don't delay RON95 revamp'
PETALING JAYA: The government should proceed with the targeted RON95 petrol subsidy rollout despite the recent spike in global oil prices due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, say economists. Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng stressed that the surge in crude oil prices makes it even more urgent for the government to implement the plan. 'It will allow the burden of rising oil prices to be shared with consumers and businesses while preventing a ballooning subsidy burden to the nearly RM100bil incurred in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic,' he said. Yeah pointed out that unless absorbed by the government, higher global oil prices would lead to increased pump prices, putting pressure on national finances. 'This would require the government to cut other expenditures or incur a higher fiscal deficit, which will further raise the country's debt level,' he said, suggesting a gradual rollout to enhance the nation's resilience in coping with global uncertainties and oil price shocks. On Friday, global oil prices surged by over 9% to around US$75 (RM318) per barrel, the highest in nearly five months, following Israel's pre-emptive strike on Iran. Earlier in April, oil prices had dipped below US$60 (RM254) before climbing to around US$65 (RM275) by mid-month, still lower than December 2024's US$74 (RM314). Economist Dr Geoffrey Williams echoed the call to proceed with subsidy rationalisation, noting that higher oil prices would widen the gap between market prices and retail pump prices, increasing the government's subsidy burden. 'It's better to rationalise subsidies now if oil prices are expected to remain high for the rest of the year,' he said. The government stands to save at least RM8bil or more, he added, which could be redirected to critical areas such as healthcare, education and social protection. Williams also cited the success of earlier rationalisations in diesel and electricity subsidies, which raised RM11.5bil without triggering hostile market or public reactions. 'The government must push through with targeted subsidies now. There is no better time and any delay will signal weakness and damage credibility,' he added. Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia treasurer-general Datuk Koong Lin Loong also supported a phased implementation, warning that any delay could significantly increase the government's subsidy bill if oil prices continue to rise. 'This is to avoid a sudden shock to the nation's economy, which is already grappling with the current geopolitical uncertainties,' he said. He also called for the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Unit to be strengthened to prevent businesses from arbitrarily raising prices, which could drive up inflation and supply chain costs. Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Business Associations vice-chairman Nivas Ragavan cautioned that the timing of the rollout is crucial, particularly when global oil prices remain uncertain. 'Volatile oil prices can exacerbate the burden on the rakyat if not carefully managed. A sudden implementation during a price spike could be highly inflationary and politically sensitive,' he said. He noted the government's earlier decision to delay the e-invoicing initiative to ease the burden on businesses, and suggested a similar approach may be needed for the RON95 subsidy if global oil prices remain unstable.
