Latest news with #NationalTechAssociationofMalaysia
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
RM1.2 billion cyber-related losses recorded last year
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia recorded about RM1.2 billion in cyber-related losses last year, underscoring an urgent need for a more coordinated approach to national cybersecurity readiness, said National Tech Association of Malaysia secretary-general Anthony Raja Devadoss. He said the losses, which involved both commercial and consumer sectors, were driven by a surge in cyber scams and increasingly sophisticated attacks powered by artificial intelligence. He added that scam calls alone rose by 82%. Anthony said while Malaysia has made regulatory progress with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and the proposed National Cyber Security Bill, the country continues to struggle with uneven awareness and inconsistent implementation, particularly among SMEs. 'Framework-wise, Malaysia is moving in the right direction. But we tend to announce regulations first and expect compliance the next day. That's a major concern. 'We need scalable cybersecurity practices, not just firewalls. Small firms must have access to certified talent, and if they can't afford to hire directly, government-supported partnerships should be made available.' He suggested establishing a gov-tech alliance, a government-industry initiative focused on modernising public sector digital infrastructure, improving cybersecurity standards and ensuring that local councils and agencies adopt the latest technologies, in line with national security priorities. 'Cybersecurity is not exclusive. The impact cuts across every sector. Whether you're in finance, telco or healthcare, the consequences of a breach are widespread – reputational and financial.' He said cybersecurity must be treated as a cultural shift, not just a technical challenge. 'We're not just talking about software but also awareness, behaviour and trust. That starts at home, not just in the workplace.' He said Malaysians often underestimate personal responsibility in digital safety, and high levels of social trust have led to risky habits such as unsecured device use as well as sharing of sensitive information within households. 'The trust bank is so high here. We leave our devices unlocked, we give out our passwords,' he told theSun. 'So, when we talk about needing to enhance our tech, human errors and complacency need to be looked into as well.' BAC Education Group founder and managing director Raja Singham echoed similar concerns, particularly about the compliance burden placed on smaller businesses under current regulations. He said the 20,000 data-subject threshold for compliance under PDPA effectively pulls in almost every organisation, from supermarkets to educational institutions. 'Even a mid-sized college like BAC holds well over 20,000 data records. Everyone gets caught.' Raja said SMEs, which make up over 90% of Malaysian businesses, are often left scrambling to comply with new mandates without adequate time or support. 'We roll things out very quickly and then threaten penalties. However, most SMEs don't have the manpower, training or budget to respond immediately.' He added that the shortage of skilled professionals, such as privacy officers and cybersecurity leads, has left many firms unable to comply meaningfully. 'These are now mandatory roles. But for many businesses, they're seen as added expenses, and no one knows whom to hire or how to train them.' On recent leaks involving government websites, Raja attributed the problem to outdated infrastructure.
New Straits Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Nominations open for Pikom Digital Excellence Awards 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Nominations are now open for the Pikom Digital Excellence Awards (PDEA) 2025, which recognise the nation's leading figures and organisations in digital innovation and leadership. Organised by the National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom), the annual awards celebrate individuals and companies that are driving transformation across Malaysia's digital economy. Pikom chairman Alex Liew said the awards went beyond recognising achievement, as they validated the transformative power of digital innovation in the country. "Being recognised at the PDEA is a defining moment for both individuals and organisations. It opens new doors, enhances credibility, and extends influence," he said in a statement today. The 2025 edition follows the success of last year's awards, which honoured 33 recipients — including two companies that are now preparing to list on Bursa Malaysia or transition from the LEAP to the ACE market. Award categories span a wide range of sectors, including cybersecurity, fintech, e-commerce, cloud services, artificial intelligence, ESG in tech, and outstanding digital transformation initiatives. There are also individual accolades for technology luminaries, chief information officers, women tech leaders, and tech entrepreneurs. Nominations will be evaluated by a panel of industry experts, based on criteria such as innovation, impact, execution, leadership, and alignment with Malaysia's digital economy agenda. The awards ceremony will conclude with a gala night on Sept 10 at the Sunway Resort Hotel.
The Star
05-05-2025
- The Star
Don't switch off your brain for AI, experts warn
PETALING JAYA: Generative AI may be fast, confident and seemingly intelligent – but blind trust in its answers can dull your thinking and spread misinformation, experts warn. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak lecturer Chuah Kee Man said tools like ChatGPT may produce sophisticated responses but their outputs are not always reliable, nor are they based on genuine understanding. CLICK TO ENLARGE 'These models don't really 'think' – they 'predict',' said Chuah, who specialises in educational technology and computational linguistics. 'They estimate the most likely response based on training data. That's why you rarely get the same answer twice,' he said in an interview. Even with browsing and fact-checking features, Chuah said AI still retrieves and summarises content without comprehension. He said the polished nature of AI-generated text can mislead users into mistaking fluency for factual accuracy. 'In workshops, I often see people assume something must be true because it sounds sophisticated. 'But AI can confidently present outdated or false information. Its speed trains people to verify less and think less critically,' he said. Chuah also cautioned against assuming that using AI equates to understanding how it works. 'Even experts are still trying to unravel how large models arrive at certain outputs, the so-called 'black box' problem.' To use AI wisely, Chuah said users should view its output as a starting point and not as a conclusion. 'Stay curious but cautious. Treat AI as a helpful assistant, not an authority. 'Develop 'prompt literacy' because learning to phrase prompts well reduces the risk of being misled,' he said. He added that image and video generators are equally prone to flaws as they assemble visuals based on probability. 'If we don't blindly trust humans, we shouldn't blindly trust machines either,' he said. Assoc Prof Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat, a criminologist and psychologist at Universiti Sains Malaysia, said people are psychologically inclined to trust confident and structured answers, even from machines. 'This stems from cognitive biases, social conditioning and evolutionary traits. 'Authority bias, cognitive ease and the illusion of understanding all contribute,' she said. Geshina said fluent and assertive AI responses often mimic traits that associate with expertise, triggering automatic trust even if the content is flawed. 'People fear uncertainty. A confident AI answer gives psychological relief. 'Our brains prefer smooth, simple explanations to complex or ambiguous ones,' she said. To counter this, Geshina recommended a triangulation mindset which is to only accept AI responses when they align with at least two independent, credible sources. She also encouraged delayed judgment, source awareness and failure literacy. Alex Liew, chairman of the National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom), echoed similar concerns, saying AI tools rely heavily on data which includes false or biased information found online. 'AI isn't inherently smarter than humans. It processes data using fixed rules, which makes its answers sound polished but not necessarily correct,' he said. Liew said Pikom recently published a paper on AI Ethics and Governance, urging industry-wide accountability. 'AI helps us process massive data but it should never be the final arbiter. That role still belongs to humans.' Prof Dr C. Sara of Universiti Teknologi MARA said despite the risks, generative AI has practical strengths when used responsibly. 'AI can generate articles in minutes and assist in producing large volumes of content, including personalised social media posts. 'AI tools can also help with language localisation, keyword suggestions for search engine optimisation and overcoming writer's block through idea generation,' she said. Sara, however, stressed the importance of accuracy. 'To avoid spreading misinformation or damaging your brand, cross-check AI content with trusted sources. 'Look for citations, spot inconsistencies and consult experts for niche topics,' she said. Sara said while AI is here to stay, ultimately human judgment must remain a constant.
