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See - Sada Elbalad
20-06-2025
- See - Sada Elbalad
MCE Highlights Ethical, Moral Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence at Jakarta Book Fair
Mohamed Mandour As part of its active participation in the 2025 Islamic Book Fair (IBF) in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, the Muslim Council of Elders organized an intellectual seminar titled 'Promoting Digital Awareness and the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence' during the fair's opening day. The seminar witnessed notable attendance, particularly from youth and individuals interested in the intersection of modern technology with human and religious values. The seminar began with a keynote address by His Excellency Prof. Dr. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, a renowned exegete of the Quran, former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, and member of the Muslim Council of Elders. In his remarks, Prof. Shihab emphasized that Islam does not separate knowledge from ethics, noting that the first revealed verse—'Read in the name of your Lord'—establishes a foundational link between science and moral responsibility. He warned that without a grounding in spiritual and human values, science and technology, including artificial intelligence, could become tools of misguidance rather than enlightenment. He further cautioned against relying on AI for issuing legal or religious verdicts, as the data it relies on may stem from cultural and religious contexts that do not align with Islamic traditions. Prof. Shihab identified three core ethical principles that must govern the use of modern technology: human dignity, public benefit, and moral accountability. Dr. Rezzy Eko Caraka, a leading researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency, presented on the practical dimensions of artificial intelligence applications. He stressed that modern technologies should remain tools that serve humanity, not replacements for human decision-making or thought. Dr. Caraka highlighted several ethical challenges associated with AI, including violations of privacy, excessive cognitive reliance on technology, and the environmental impact of server operations. He called for fostering a culture of responsible and mindful technology use and advocated for the development of ethical and intellectual frameworks grounded in religious values. In a remarkable intervention, His Excellency Prof. Dr. Pratikno, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, underlined the need for comprehensive digital sovereignty to confront the challenges of artificial intelligence—starting with the development of localized content. He warned that the absence of local content in AI datasets could distort religious concepts and erode cultural identity. Prof. Dr. Pratikno urged institutions like the Muslim Council of Elders to lead efforts in developing AI models that reflect the particularity of Islamic values and cultural authenticity. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
The Star
07-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
History revisited – or rewritten?
The government's plan to release new history books has sparked concerns that some of the country's darkest chapters could be recast to show President Prabowo Subianto and late authoritarian ruler Suharto in a favourable light. The 10-volume series would have an Indonesia-centric narrative and aims 'to reinvent the Indonesian identity,' Culture Minister Fadli Zon said in an interview. Several historians said the commissioning of the books presents an opportunity for historical revisionism at a time when younger generations – largely responsible for Prabowo's resounding election victory last year – have little or no memory of Suharto's 1966-1998 New Order era. Prabowo openly praises Suharto, who was once his father-in-law, and is increasingly turning to the military to carry out his government's vision. Prabowo has also been accused of rights abuses while in the military, including involvement in the kidnapping of student activists during riots in 1998 – allegations he has repeatedly denied and which Fadli said had been debunked. Potential propaganda? Fadli says he has believed 'for a long time that Suharto should be considered a national hero'. — Reuters Asvi Warman Adam, a leading historian who used to work at the National Research and Innovation Agency, said he was calling on academics to lobby lawmakers to scrutinise what he said would be 'propaganda'. 'I suspect there is an intention to legitimise the ruling regime ... such as by excluding gross human rights violations in 1998 linked to Prabowo,' he said, adding that he expected the government would soon confer the posthumous title of 'National Hero' on Suharto. Asked about concerns by some analysts and historians that the books could be used as propaganda, be politicised and omit human rights abuses that have been linked to Prabowo and Suharto, Fadli said: 'History will be written correctly.' The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new books. Prabowo has previously said that former activists were his supporters. No editorial involvement Fadli, who has authored a book that defended Prabowo's actions as a special forces commander during Suharto's 32-year rule, added that neither he nor Prabowo would be involved in the editorial process. The books, which Fadli said were commissioned last year, will chronicle the history of humankind in Indonesia from homo erectus to Dutch colonisation to Prabowo's election. In his defence: Highlighting economic achievements in the early presidency of Suharto, including slashing poverty.— Reuters They will be authored and edited by about 100 historians and Fadli says he wants them ready by Aug 17, Indonesia's Independence Day. Mass killings in focus Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said he believes the government will use the same playbook as Suharto, who released a six-volume book series in 1975 titled The National History of Indonesia that he said glorified the military and was fraught with inaccuracies. 'Prabowo's history within this republic is not good, to be frank ... Do they dare to write that?' Jajat Burhanuddin, a historian involved in the project, said so far there has been no state intervention. The 1998 kidnappings and torture of student activists would be included, he said, although he declined to say whether Prabowo would be mentioned in those accounts. Another key focus for historians will be how the books portray the mass killings of communists and sympathisers in 1965 and 1966, led in part by the military. Some historians estimate more than half a million people were killed. No investigation has been conducted into the killings, which were in response to the murder of generals by the communist party in an abortive coup. Suharto rose to power in the aftermath and remained president until 1998, when he stepped down during a popular uprising and economic crisis after allegations of corruption and nepotism. The 1965 events continue to be debated in Indonesia. Fadli said the new books would not take a deeper look into the massacres. Fadli, who was among the student activists who demonstrated against Suharto, now speaks highly of the former ruler, highlighting economic achievements in his early presidency, including slashing poverty and tackling inflation. 'My opinion has always been for a long time that Suharto should be considered a national hero,' he said. — Reuters
The Star
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Defying all odds with nuclear power
Balancing act: Researchers conducting their daily monitoring of the nuclear reactor facility at the National Research and Innovation Agency in Bandung. — AFP THE country is hoping going nuclear can help it meet soaring energy demand while taming emissions, but faces serious challenges to its goal of a first small modular reactor by 2032. Its first experiment with nuclear energy dates to February 1965, when then-president Sukarno inaugurated a test reactor. Sixty years later, South-East Asia's largest economy has three research reactors but no nuclear power plants for electricity. Abundant reserves of polluting coal have so far met the enormous archipelago's energy needs. But 'nuclear will be necessary to constrain the rise of and eventually reduce emissions,' said Philip Andrews-Speed, a senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. President Prabowo Subianto has promised to ensure energy security while meeting a pledge to eliminate coal-powered electricity generation within 15 years. Coal accounts for around two-thirds of electricity generation in Indonesia, which targets net-zero by 2050. The government wants 40-54GW of the 400GW it projects will be generated nationwide by 2060 to come from nuclear. It hopes to kickstart capacity with a reactor on the country's part of Borneo 'by 2030 or 2032', according to Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. It will be a small modular reactor, which has a lower capacity than traditional reactors but is easier to assemble and transport. The total number of plants planned has not been detailed, but the government has begun scouting locations – a challenge for a country located on the seismically active 'Ring of Fire'. 'Currently, 29 potential locations have been identified for the construction of nuclear power plants,' Dadan Kusdiana, acting secretary-general of the National Energy Council (DEN), said. All are outside the country's biggest island of Java, in line with government goals to develop the archipelago's centre and east. The sites would also put facilities near energy-hungry mining sites. While Japan's quake and tsunami-triggered Fukushima disaster has stalled nuclear progress in some parts of Asia, proponents say nuclear can be done safely in Indonesia. 'North Java, East Sumatra, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan are considered as low-risk zones,' said Andang Widi Harto, a nuclear engineering researcher at Yogyakarta University. Countries from Vietnam to Belgium are also growing or retaining nuclear capacity as they struggle to meet net-zero goals to combat climate change. While Indonesia isn't alone in the nuclear pivot, it has little domestic expertise to draw on. It will look abroad for help, said Dadan, citing 'serious interest' from providers including Russia's Rosatom, China's CNNC and Candu Canada. The Indonesian subsidiary of US company ThorCon is already seeking a licence for an experimental 'molten-salt reactor'. It wants to use shipyards to build reactors that will be towed to coastal or offshore locations and 'ballasted' to the seabed. Dadan said DEN has also visited France's EDF SA to explore possible cooperation. French President Emmanuel Macron is due in Indonesia this week on a South-East Asia tour. EDF said there are currently 'no discussions underway on nuclear with Indonesia,' though its CEO Bernard Fontana will be part of Macron's delegation. A second French firm, Orano, also said it had not discussed collaboration with Indonesia. The government has not said how much it expects the nuclear ramp-up to cost, but Dadan insists the money will be there. 'Various potential international investors ... have shown interest', including Russia, the United States, Denmark, South Korea and China, he said. — AFP
AsiaOne
19-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
In Indonesia, fears grow that dark past may be rewritten with government's new history books, Asia News
JAKARTA — The Indonesian government's plan to release new history books has sparked concerns that some of the country's darkest chapters could be recast to show President Prabowo Subianto and late authoritarian ruler Suharto in a favourable light. The 10-volume series would have an Indonesia-centric narrative and aims "to reinvent the Indonesian identity," Culture Minister Fadli Zon told Reuters in an interview. Several historians said the commissioning of the books presents an opportunity for historical revisionism at a time when Indonesia's younger generations — largely responsible for Prabowo's resounding election victory last year — have little or no memory of Suharto's 1966-1998 New Order era. Prabowo openly praises Suharto, who was once his father-in-law, and is increasingly turning to the military to carry out his government's vision. Prabowo has also been accused of rights abuses while in the military, including involvement in the kidnapping of student activists during riots in 1998 — allegations he has repeatedly denied and which Fadli said had been debunked. Asvi Warman Adam, a leading historian who used to work at the National Research and Innovation Agency, said he was calling on academics to lobby lawmakers to scrutinise what he said would be "propaganda". "I suspect there is an intention to legitimise the ruling regime... such as by excluding gross human rights violations in 1998 linked to Prabowo," he said, adding that he expected the government would soon confer the posthumous title of National Hero on Suharto. Asked about concerns by some analysts and historians that the books could be used as propaganda, be politicised and omit human rights abuses that have been linked to Prabowo and Suharto, Fadli said: "History will be written correctly". The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new books. Prabowo has previously said that former activists were his supporters. Fadli, who has authored a book that defended Prabowo's actions as a special forces commander during Suharto's 32-year rule, added that neither he nor Prabowo would be involved in the editorial process. The books, which Fadli said were commissioned last year, will chronicle the history of humankind in Indonesia from homo erectus to Dutch colonisation to Prabowo's election. They will be authored and edited by about 100 historians and Fadli says he wants them ready by Aug 17, Indonesia's Independence Day. Mass killings in focus Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said he believes the government will use the same playbook as Suharto, who released a six-volume book series in 1975 titled The National History of Indonesia that he said glorified the military and was fraught with inaccuracies. "Prabowo's history within this republic is not good, to be frank... Do they dare to write that?" said Made. Jajat Burhanuddin, a historian involved in the project, said so far there has been no state intervention. The 1998 kidnappings and torture of student activists would be included, he said, although he declined to say whether Prabowo would be mentioned in those accounts. Another key focus for historians will be how the books portray the mass killings of communists and sympathisers in 1965 and 1966, led by military and Islamic leaders. Some historians estimate more than half a million people were killed. No investigation has been conducted into the killings, which were in response to the murder of generals by the communist party in an abortive coup. Suharto rose to power in the aftermath and remained president until 1998, when he stepped down during a popular uprising and economic crisis after allegations of corruption and nepotism. The 1965 events continue to be debated in Indonesia. Fadli said the new books would not take a deeper look into the massacres. Fadli, who was among the student activists who demonstrated against Suharto, now speaks highly of the former ruler, highlighting economic achievements in his early presidency, including slashing poverty and tackling inflation. "My opinion has always been for a long time that Suharto should be considered a national hero," he said. [[nid:717469]]
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
In Indonesia, fears grow that dark past may be rewritten with government's new history books
The 10-volume series would have an Indonesia-centric narrative and aims 'to reinvent the Indonesian identity,' Culture Minister Fadli Zon said. PHOTO: REUTERS In Indonesia, fears grow that dark past may be rewritten with government's new history books JAKARTA - The Indonesian government's plan to release new history books has sparked concerns that some of the country's darkest chapters could be recast to show President Prabowo Subianto and late authoritarian ruler Suharto in a favourable light. The 10-volume series would have an Indonesia-centric narrative and aims 'to reinvent the Indonesian identity,' Culture Minister Fadli Zon told Reuters in an interview. Several historians said the commissioning of the books presents an opportunity for historical revisionism at a time when Indonesia's younger generations - largely responsible for Mr Prabowo's resounding election victory in 2024 - have little or no memory of Suharto's 1966-1998 New Order era. Mr Prabowo openly praises Suharto, who was once his father-in-law, and is increasingly turning to the military to carry out his government's vision. Mr Prabowo has also been accused of rights abuses while in the military, including involvement in the kidnapping of student activists during riots in 1998 - allegations he has repeatedly denied and which Mr Fadli said had been debunked. Mr Asvi Warman Adam, a leading historian who used to work at the National Research and Innovation Agency, said he was calling on academics to lobby lawmakers to scrutinise what he said would be 'propaganda'. 'I suspect there is an intention to legitimise the ruling regim ... such as by excluding gross human rights violations in 1998 linked to Prabowo,' he said, adding that he expected the government would soon confer the posthumous title of 'National Hero' on Suharto. Asked about concerns by some analysts and historians that the books could be used as propaganda, be politicised and omit human rights abuses that have been linked to Mr Prabowo and Suharto, Mr Fadli said: 'History will be written correctly'. The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new books. Mr Prabowo has previously said that former activists were his supporters. Mr Fadli, who has authored a book that defended Mr Prabowo's actions as a special forces commander during Suharto's 32-year rule, added that neither he nor Mr Prabowo would be involved in the editorial process. The books, which Mr Fadli said were commissioned in 2024, will chronicle the history of humankind in Indonesia from homo erectus to Dutch colonisation to Prabowo's election. They will be authored and edited by about 100 historians, and Mr Fadli says he wants them ready by August 17, Indonesia's Independence Day. Mass killings in focus Mr Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow at the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said he believes the government will use the same playbook as Suharto, who released a six-volume book series in 1975 titled 'The National History of Indonesia' that he said glorified the military and was fraught with inaccuracies. 'Prabowo's history within this republic is not good, to be frank... Do they dare to write that?' said Mr Made. Mr Jajat Burhanuddin, a historian involved in the project, said so far there has been no state intervention. The 1998 kidnappings and torture of student activists would be included, he said, although he declined to say whether Mr Prabowo would be mentioned in those accounts. Another key focus for historians will be how the books portray the mass killings of communists and sympathisers in 1965 and 1966, led by military and Islamic leaders. Some historians estimate more than half a million people were killed. No investigation has been conducted into the killings, which were in response to the murder of generals by the communist party in an abortive coup. Suharto rose to power in the aftermath and remained president until 1998, when he stepped down during a popular uprising and economic crisis after allegations of corruption and nepotism. The 1965 events continue to be debated in Indonesia. Mr Fadli said the new books would not take a deeper look into the massacres. Mr Fadli, who was among the student activists who demonstrated against Suharto, now speaks highly of the former ruler, highlighting economic achievements in his early presidency, including slashing poverty and tackling inflation. 'My opinion has always been for a long time that Suharto should be considered a national hero,' he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
