Parking privatisation: Local councils biggest losers, says PJ MCA Youth
Describing it as detrimental to MBPJ, Petaling Jaya MCA Youth chief Andy Teoh Tuck Wah questioned the state government's announcement regarding the Smart Parking System despite it not being finalised yet.
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The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Labelling boosts transparency, but laws must follow
PETALING JAYA: The government's proposal to mandate the labelling of AI-generated content under the forthcoming Online Safety Act is a positive step but experts warned it must be reinforced by technical and legal safeguards to be effective. UTM Assoc Prof Dr Zool Hilmi Ismail said the move is timely but enforcing it across all platforms will be technically complex and may fall short of preventing malicious AI use. 'Detecting AI-generated content isn't foolproof. The tools we have are still developing and can struggle with new or cleverly altered content. Studies show that deepfake detectors often get it wrong with poor-quality videos, content involving non-Western faces or when the AI has used tricks to avoid detection. In general, technology can't keep up with how fast AI is advancing.' Zool noted that while labelling AI content could increase transparency, it also raises difficult questions about accountability. 'Who is responsible – the creator, platform or third-party aggregators? Logging digital signatures or watermarks could help, but setting up and regulating such a system end-to-end is complex.' He also cautioned that labelling alone will not deter more harmful applications of AI, such as scams and voice-cloning fraud. 'Malaysia needs to strengthen technical safeguards, such as digital watermarking at the point of creation, robust detection systems and fast takedown mechanisms. We also need advanced forensic tools to support investigations.' IIUM Assoc Prof Dr Mahyuddin Daud described the labelling proposal as a 'significant legal development'. 'It mirrors steps taken in countries such as Spain, where failing to label AI content is now considered a serious offence. China is also moving in this direction, requiring platforms to disclose watermarks and metadata.' However, Mahyuddin stressed that without strong enforcement, the law will have little effect. 'Malaysia should introduce clear penalties, such as fines tied to platform revenues and legal duties for platforms to actively detect and remove harmful AI content.' He also recommended mandatory standards for verifying AI material, backed by independent audits, along with specific laws targeting high-risk content such as deepfake pornography and political disinformation. On July 13, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the government may consider making it mandatory for digital platforms to label AI-generated content under the Online Safety Act. He said it was crucial in addressing concerns about boundaries and the risk of misinformation and fake news spreading through social media. He added that the government may consider similar requirements under the Online Safety Act, which is expected to come into force by the end of the year.
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Secondary schooling vital but needs support, say stakeholders
PETALING JAYA: The amendment to the Education Act to make secondary schooling compulsory is not a punitive measure but to highlight the value of education in changing the lives of a child and family, says the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP). Its secretary-general Fouzi Singon said as such, the government must also have the infrastructure ready to help students continue their education at secondary level. 'At present, the enrolment rate for secondary school is 93% and the ones left behind are those who are sick, poor, the Orang Asli and those who lack accessibility and are enrolled in unconventional schools. 'This amendment will help address the matter, but we must remember that many kids who drop out of school or play truant are those aged 15 and above (Form 3 to Form 5). 'This is because they are at an age where they no longer want to abide by the rules set by their parents or are left behind in terms of literacy. 'So this is where I think we should be focusing if we want to reduce the number of dropouts. 'We have to start thinking of other ways to keep them in school. 'One way is to start vocational school from Form 1. Currently, it only starts at Form 4 onwards or enrolment in Giat Mara programmes,' he told The Star. He said this in response to the tabling of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 for first reading by Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. Under the proposed amendments, the Bill seeks to amend Section 2 of the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) to substitute the definition of 'compulsory education' to include secondary education. It also introduces a new provision – Section 32A – that empowers the education minister to designate secondary education as mandatory for all Malaysian children living in the country. Meanwhile, Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, the Children's Commissioner to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), said the definition of education at secondary level should give children the option to pursue vocational training and homeschooling. 'The definition has to encompass the different types of education that are available for children. The education modality must also be defined by recognising these provisions,' she said. In terms of access to education, she said many children who are in detention or have dropped out at age 12 cited poverty or supporting their families, or losing interest in education, as reasons. One of the challenges in confronting education reform is to keep school interesting enough so that children do not get bored and drop out, she said. As such, Farah said that to keep the children in school, the Education Ministry and the authorities should assist them and their parents, especially single parents whose needs are even more incumbent. 'This amendment certainly goes a long way towards reducing incidents of teenage pregnancies, child marriages, child labour and children being in conflict with the law and involved in unhealthy vices. 'But this can only happen if social support and empowerment are given to the families and the children involved,' Farah said. In Malaysia, primary education starts at age seven and is compulsory for six years. While preschool education is not compulsory, it is available for children aged four to six. The government provides free education for primary school pupils. Previously, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the enrolment rate for primary school was about 99% and 93% for secondary school, but the ministry was hoping to improve the secondary school rate to 95%.
Free Malaysia Today
14 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
8 judges promoted, 14 JCs confirmed as judges, say sources
Eight High Court judges and 14 judicial commissioners will receive their appointment letters from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, today. PETALING JAYA : Eight High Court judges will be elevated to the Court of Appeal, while 14 judicial commissioners will be confirmed as High Court judges, according to sources. Those named to the Court of Appeal are believed to be Justices Shahnaz Sulaiman, Evrol Mariette Peters, Ong Chee Kwan, Radzi Abdul Hamid, Leonard David Shim, Nadzarin Wok Nordin, Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid and K Muniandy. The judicial commissioners promoted as High Court judges are expected to be Justices Maslinda @ Linda Ainal, Faridz Gohim Abdullah, Choong Yew Choy, Saiful Azian Mokhtar, Evawani Farisyta Mohamad, S Indra Nehru, M Sumathi, Moses Susayan, Kan Weng Hin, Wendy Ooi, Rosli Yusoff, Hazlina Hussain, Roszianayati Ahmad and Haldar Abdul Aziz. They are expected to receive their letters of appointment from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara today, as will the new chief justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, Court of Appeal president Abu Bakar Jais and the new chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Azizah Nawawi. Under the Federal Constitution, judicial appointments are made by the king, on the advice of the prime minister and in consultation with the Conference of Rulers. Names of potential candidates are submitted to the prime minister by the nine-member judicial appointments commission, chaired by the chief justice of Malaysia. Wan Ahmad Farid will be Malaysia's 17th chief justice, succeeding Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat who retired earlier this month. Abu Bakar Jais replaces Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, who retired on July 2, and Azizah replaces Abdul Rahman Sebli, who left office last week. Wan Ahmad Farid, as the nation's top judge, would take his oath of office before the king, while Abu Bakar will take his oath of office in Putrajaya before senior Court of Appeal judge P Ravinthran, while Azizah will do so before Justice Dean Wayne Daly, the most senior judge in Sabah and Sarawak. The Court of Appeal appointees will be sworn in before Abu Bakar in Putrajaya; High Court judges assigned to the peninsula will take their oath before Hasnah, while those on the bench in Sabah and Sarawak will be sworn in before Azizah.
