UniMAP Collaborates With Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd

Cyberjaya, June 14, 2012 - Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) expands its cooperation with Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd in an effort to improve on the information and communication technology available in the university.

On signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), UniMAP was represented by the Vice Chancellor, Brig Gen Dato 'Prof Dr Kamarudin Hussin, while Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd was represented by Chief Executive Officer, Dai Jing Yue.

The MoU, was held in conjunction with the opening of the Malaysia Global Huawei Training Center (MGTC), was also witnessed by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Also present were Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Chai Xi.

In addition, there are also a few universities that entered into similar agreement as UniMAP. The universities are Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Universiti Multimedia, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Petronas dan Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

Prof Dr Kamarudin said that UniMAP is glad that Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd is willing to collaborate with the universities. He added that the collaboration is to provide a relevant curriculum in line with the industry.

"UniMAP has a School of Engineering (PPK) Computer and Communication. I believed that with this cooperation we are able to create an outstanding communication technology teaching laboratory in order to produce graduates with high employability to fit the criteria demanded by the ICT industry” said Prof Dr Kamarudin.

“Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd is a global technology company that provides telecommunications equipment and the world's leading network by providing solutions and competitive services.”

“Therefore, UniMAP hoped that the cooperation between UniMAP and Huawei in the field of teaching, research as well as the Corporate Social Responsibily (CSR) will be able to help the local community," said Prof Dr Kamarudin.

AKRAB UTHM Anjur Kursus Forensik Digital & Keselamatan IT

Pusat Siber Taman Universiti - 15 September 2011 , Persatuan Rakan Pembimbing Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia (AKRAB) UTHM buat pertama kalinya telah menganjurkan Kursus Forensik Digital & Keselamatan IT untuk pelajar UTHM. Kursus yang berlangsung selama sehari di Pusat Siber Taman Universiti ini telah disertai oleh 18 orang pelajar yang terdiri daripada pelbagai fakulti. Penceramahnya ialah En Sahizan Sagi dari Unit Audit Dalam UTHM yang merupakan penceramah tunggal kursus Forensik Digital di UTHM. Beliau yang juga merupakan Ketua Unit Publisiti AKRAB berpengalaman 3 tahun dalam menjalankan kursus ini kepada staf UTHM.

Antara objektif utama diadakan kursus ini ialah mempromosikan secara langsung AKRAB kepada pelajar UTHM. Memberikan pendedahan kepada pelajar bidang Forensik Digital yang sedang berkembang di Malaysia. Selain itu memberikan kesedaran kepada pelajar mengenai isu keselamatan IT dan cara menanganinya.

Kursus telah bermula seawal jam 8.30 pagi. Peserta telah diberikan terlebih dahulu modul kursus dan juga pamplet dan buletin AKRAB UTHM yang terkini. Pada sebelah pagi peserta telah diberi ceramah mengenai Forensik Digital dan menjalankan latihan praktikal manakala sebelah petang ceramah mengenai isu Keselamatan IT pula telah diberikan. Sebanyak 5 cabutan bertuah telah diberikan sepanjang kursus. Cabutan bertuah tiket kapal terbang Air Asia ke Kuching Sarawak terpaksa ditangguhkan kerana jumlah peserta belum mencapai sasaran yang telah ditetapkan penganjur.

PTM Held Video Teleconferencing with Harvard University - Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

BANGI, 7 July 2011- UKM Centre of Information Technology (PTM) successfully held a live video teleconferencing between Prof Dr Michael E. Porter from Harvard Business School in Boston with the National Professors Congress (MPN) at Putera World Trade Centre (PWTC ). 

The video teleconference with Dr Porter was held immediately after the live telecast of the Keynote Address by Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib. Najib in his key note address stressed the need for professors as icons of knowledge to be guided by good values. 

Prof Porter gave his views on what Malaysia needed to do to propel itself into becoming a high income nation. He said Malaysia needed to concentrate on its strengths and to be more productive in all areas, reduce corruption and accelerate innovations among other things.

Director of PTM Associate Prof Dr. Mohamad Shanudin Zakaria stayed up till 2.00 am the night before to ensure everything went on smoothly for viewers. The live telecast was sponsored by TM net to enable those who were unable to attend the MPN to take part in the Teleconferencing. 

Students, lecturers and UKM staff attended the live teleconferencing in UKM Centre of Information Technology between Harvard University in Boston and MPN congress in PWTC in Kuala Lumpur.

The First 4G Outlet launched in UTM

Skudai, March 11, 2011 – “YES Campus Store”, the first 4G outlet at an institution of higher learning in the country is launched at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia today.

The UTM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Zaini Ujang said, the initiative to open the said outlet enables the UTM community to get the 4G mobile internet services at an affordable rate.

 The package, Education Partner Program Campus Citizen Plan, facilitates the UTM community to use the 4G network which has been customised with a special package.

The Yes 4G mobile phone is also launched today exclusively for the UTM community.

The YES Campus Store was launched by Dr. Zaini.  Also present was the Executive Director of YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YTL Comms), Yasmin Mahmood.

Although more than 80 percent of the student residential colleges have been provided with internet coverage through the installation of almost 1,000 wireless hot spots, the 4G broad band services will extend the students’ accessibility to the online learning materials and services.

The facilities enable more than 20 thousand students to utilise the advanced communication and information technology as part of their learning process. The initiative is in tandem with UTM teaching and learning policy which emphasizes the use of e-learning while focusing on the development of soft skills among students.

The expansion of the broad band and internet accessibility will give great impact to the students of UTM as it enables them to obtain the information required particularly in research and development speedily and promptly. Such facilities are most appropriate as many of the learning references and materials are made available through the internet.

In addition the technopreneur program will get the advantage of the services provided by YTL Comms through high speed internet.

:)

 

Great Job Girl !

Big Smile from me :)

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ARTICLES FROM COMPANY : TM continues its efforts to increase ICT literacy among communities

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today contributed additional computers to SJK (C) Serendah for its computer lab and honoured excellent students from 4 schools in Serendah and active users of the Serendah Community Broadband Centre (Serendah CBC) in a ceremony held at Serendah CBC in Taman Seri Serendah, Serendah, Hulu Selangor.

TM, mindful of its role in boosting ICT literacy among the students and the local communities, today continues to play the role by giving away 2 computers for the computer lab of SJK (C) Serendah.

The contributions were handed over by YB. Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, Minister of Information, Communications and Culture. Also present at the event was Dato’ Kairul Annuar Mohamed Zamzam, Executive Vice President, Government, TM.

The 2 computers to SJK (C) Serendah are in addition to the 3 units of computers that were handed over to the school by YB. Senator Heng Seai Kie, Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Cultureyesterday. Earlier last night, TM also handed over 2 computers to SJK (C) Khing Ming and 1 computer equipped with broadband Internet connection to Serendah Community Centre in a ceremony held at Sen See Yeh Temple in Serendah.

By providing the school with the computers, TM aims to encourage the younger generation to embrace ICT and be part of the information society by giving them a chance to be exposed to wider usage of the ICT facilities. It is hoped that the students of SJK (C) Serendah can acquire better computer skills while equipping themselves with better IT knowledge. With a three-pronged objective which is to introduce the use of ICT in education, to introduce schools as community centre for ICT knowledge dissemination and to bridge the digital divide, this initiative is yet another testament of TM’s commitment in supporting national aspirations of producing a knowledge community.

At the same event, TM also honoured 11 high-achieving students from 4 primary and secondary schools in Serendah who obtained excellent results in their respective examinations recently. The students were from the following schools:

a) SJK (C) Serendah – 3 UPSR students
b) SK Antara Gapi – 1 UPSR student
c) SK Serendah – 3 UPSR students
d) SMK Serendah – 3 PMR and 1 SPM students 

In recognition of their excellent results, each student received cash incentive of RM300 and TM school bag. The incentive is hoped to serve as an encouragement for them to continue their excellent performance in their future studies.  

In addition, TM also rewarded 6 “Most Active Users” of the Serendah CBC. The 6 individuals, with 2 individuals each under the primary school, secondary school and adults categories were recognised as the most active users of the ICT facilities available at the Serendah CBC. Each active user walked away with a brand new laptop, courtesy of TM. This recognition is hoped to drive even more active usage among the local communities in Serendah for them to fully utilise the facilities at the Serendah CBC. The initiative is also aimed at cultivating a generation of Malaysians who are ICT-literate, will assist in bridging the digital divide.

These initiatives form a part of TM’s larger Corporate Responsibilities (CR) initiative. TM champions a three-pronged CR approach, namely education, community as well as nation building and the environment.

Under the education platform, among the initiatives are the establishment of Multimedia University (MMU) as the first private university in the country. Besides that, Yayasan TM, the social arm of TM, has awarded scholarships worth RM30 million this year to 823 deserving students to pursue their studies at government schools and universities in Malaysia and abroad. Since its inception in 1994, more than 11,000 students have benefited from this scholarship programme which amounted to over RM390 million.

Under the Community and Nation-building platform, TM focuses on enriching the lives of the needy and less fortunate by bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities and offering donations to welfare homes, charitable organizations and NGOs


Adapted from Telekom Malaysia

Axiata Group Receives 2012 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Award for Best Telecom Group for the Fourth Consecutive Year

Singapore 8 June 2012, Axiata Group Berhad (“Axiata”) has been named „Frost & Sullivan‟s 2012 Asia Pacific ICT Award Best Telecom Group of the Year', for the fourth consecutive year. The Awards seek to recognise the outstanding performance by companies in the Enterprise, Telecom, and Service Provider segments of the Information, Communication and Technology industry.

The prestigious award, one of four of the coveted Best of the Best category, was determined by a high-level and respected panel of telecom experts from all over the world. Award recipients were evaluated based on their revenue growth, market share gains, leadership in new product introduction and innovation, breadth of products and solutions, major customer acquisition, and business and market strategy.

Dato' Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Axiata said, "It is indeed a great honour to receive this recognition for the fourth consecutive time, especially given the other very established nominees in the category. 2011 marked another solid year for Axiata and this award is recognition of the Group‟s strong presence and continued success in the region's telecommunications market”.

Serene Chan, Industry Analyst, Mobile and Wireless Asia Pacific ICT Practice, Frost & Sullivan said, “Outstanding performance was noted across a number of areas. In particular, its subsidiaries in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia achieved strong growth with notable increases in their postpaid subscribers. While expanding its footprint, effective cost management is vigilantly undertaken in consistently maintaining a high EBITA margin. At 43.3% in 2011, the Axiata Group achieved the highest EBITA margin among its peers in the Asia Pacific region. Nevertheless, cost control was never at the expense of continuous development. The management's strategic vision is exemplified through its infrastructural development where 18.5% of its revenue is channeled towards capital investment”.

Axiata's affiliate, Idea Cellular, also took home the Growth Strategy award in recognition of the group's stellar performance in 2011. Idea ended the financial year as the fastest growing Indian mobile operator with a 27% YoY revenue growth, nearly double the industry growth rate.

"The awards reflect the great team that we have with us and due recognition has to be given to all employees of the Group, who once again stepped up their efforts to achieve another year of continued results. I also congratulate all Idea employees. Idea had a fantastic 2011 and the awards are testament to this. I also have to thank our stakeholders, especially the customers, now numbering over 200 million, throughout the region. We will continue to build on our strengths as a pan-Asian carrier, providing the best in telecommunications services across the region," Dato' Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim concluded.

Adapted from Axiata

TM Continues to boost ICT literacy among students and communities

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today continues to play its role in boosting ICT literacy among the students and communities with its contributions to Sekolah Kebangsaan Panglima Adnan in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

For this cause, TM facilitated the establishment of an IT Corner or “Sudut IT” for the computer lab of SK Panglima Adnan which include upgrading the computers as well as contributing 5 new computers for the school. TM will also be providing Internet connectivity via wireless broadband utilising the existing SchoolNet’s network to enable the students and the teachers to access the Internet and reap its benefits. In addition, GITN Sdn Bhd (GITN), a wholly-owned TM subsidiary that manages SchoolNet for the Ministry of Education, is providing the school with 10 Tutor.com accounts, an online learning portal for students to do online revision to prepare them for examinations.

The IT Corner was launched by YB. Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, Minister of Information, Communications and Culture. Also present at the ceremony were Dato’ Jailani Johari, Senior Director, USP, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus, Senior Director, Infrastructure Development Division, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Dato’ Abdullah Mohammad, Negeri Sembilan Education Director and Saniah Abu Samah, Headmistress of SK Panglima Adnan.

CURRENT ISSUE ABOUT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY : TM confident of attracting 500 000 SMEs by year end

KUALA LUMPUR: TELEKOM Malaysia Bhd (TM) expects its small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) customers to reach more than half a million by the end of the year as it broadens its ICT solutions business.

TM SME executive vice-president Azizi Hadi said TM had 494,000 SME customers subscribing to a wide range of TM solutions and products as of now.

He said up until May, TM had secured contracts worth RM58 million, of which 90 per cent came from its existing customers upgrading their ICT solution subscription.

Azizi said this after the prize-giving ceremony for the winners of TM's SME BizFest and BizNet 2012 lucky draws at TM headquarters here yesterday.

SME BizFest, which took place in Penang, Johor Baru and the Klang Valley this year, targeted SMEs that required ICT solutions to improve and enhance their businesses.

At the event, SMEs learned a thing or two about how to prepare for future business challenges and how to stay competitive in the market.

SME BizNet, which has taken place at 13 locations nationwide this year, is aimed at educating the customers on ICT solutions and product awareness.

"By targeting the mass market, SME BizNet 2012 served as a platform for SMEs to engage with TM to learn more about ICT offerings that would suit their businesses," said Azizi.

He added that TM was committed to support SME development and growth so as to enable them to achieve a competitive edge.

Among TM's products and offerings are Office in a Box, UniFi, SmartMap, SmartBiz, Marketing Tools and BizApp Store.

"I hope the SMEs can seize on this opportunity to reap as many benefits as they can through the technology made available by TM," said Azizi.

At yesterday's event, 17 lucky draw winners received their prizes, which include Samsung tablets, Ipad 2, netbooks, plasma televisions, an Apple Macbook, a Proton Persona and a GWM Haval H5 SUV worth RM120,000.

Multinational, local ICT firms find PFCC attractive

      Kuala Lumpur : IOI Properties Bhd, a heavyweight property developer in terms of size and profitability, expects its Puchong Financial Corporate Cebtre ( PFCC ) to be one of the most preferred corporate and financial hubs in the Klang Valley.

Multinational and local ICT companies looking for office towers in Puchong are attracted to PFCC as it has been accorded the MSC Malaysia Status and is recognised as a MSC Malaysia Cybercentre.
In a statement issued yesterday, IOI Properties said its subsidiary, Flora Development Sdn Bhd,signed a collaboration agreement with Multimedia Development Corp Sdn Bhd (MDeC) last month for the MSC Malaysia Cybercentre status.

The MSC Malaysia Cybercentre status is a prestigious award given to niche business locations that meet the MSC Malaysia Cybercentre standards and criteria.
The criteria are to provide a world-class physical and information infrastructure and globally competitive telecommunication tariffs to deliver the MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantees to MSC-status companies.
Currently, there are fewer than ten buildings in the Klang Valley with the MSC status.
PFCC, located at Bandar Puteri Puchong, features a business class hotel and four office towers, where two have been built and the rest are to be completed by mid-2013.

The buildings are equipped with dual electricity source and state-of-the-art information technology features such as a fibre optic backbone to support high-speed broadband Internet access and mobile coverage.
Already PFCC has secured anchor tenants like the Bank Of China, OCBC Bank, Malaysia Building Society Bhd and VADS Business Process Sdn Bhd for the two completed buildings.
Operating from PFCC will allow the companies to substantially reduce their cost of doing business, the statement said.

IOI Properties Bhd, a subsidiary of IOI Group, is one of the largest property developers in Malaysia with a land bank of 2,500ha.

Adapted from News Straits Times, 10 JULY 2012

INTERNATIONAL ICT ARTICLES : Government IT is not just a cost to be managed

IT could be more agile, but so to the relationship between IT and civil service leaders. 

IT projects need to be more agile, but the relationship between IT and civil service leaders also needs work, says Sir Ian Magee. Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, today announced that the government will save £70m on IT expenditure after successfully renegotiating a number of contracts and awarding two new ones to SAP and Microsoft.

Efficiency savings are clearly welcome, assuming they materialise, but only seeing IT as a cost to be managed can be dangerous.

The Institute for Government's (IfG) new report, System Upgrade? shows that most progress made by the government IT community over the last year has been in those areas where savings are easily quantified – specifically in contract renegotiations– and where the IT professionals can operate (at least initially) with relative autonomy.

Focus on cost should not come at the expense of innovation or expenditure that actually releases savings elsewhere. Using IT to save public servants and citizens time and money in government transactions – in taxes, benefits, health services and so on – is essential if the coalition is to have any hope of meeting its deficit reduction targets without major adverse impacts on service standards.

It entrepreneurs find surprise success in Kenya's Dadaad refugee camps

Mohammed Bashir Sheik, 22, a self-trained web-designer who lives in Dadaab, contributes to the refugee-published newspaper in the camps

Two decades on, Dadaab is home to many resourceful refugees who feel unable to return to Somalia.  Mohammed Bashir Sheik was four when he arrived at Dadaab refugee camp with his mother and sister 18 years ago. The family, along with tens of thousands of others, had fled the civil war in Somalia, looking for refuge over the border in north-east Kenya. His mother died when he was 14 and he grew up in the care of his sister.

"Survival in the camp was particularly tough after my mother died. The ration of 6kg of maize, 300g of oil and 400g of beans to last each person for 15 days was hardly enough," he recalls.

So far, Sheik's story chimes with the typical picture of a refugee. But that is where it ends. Meet Sheik aged 22. He has never left Dadaab, the world's largest refugee complex, but that has not stopped him learning how to create and host websites, set up a small business and teach others how to use computers.

When he is not out interviewing people for a newspaper produced in the camp, he can usually be found in the Hag youth information and communications technology (ICT) laboratory, in a corner of Ifo2 camp, an extension of Hagadera, one of the three camps that make up the sprawling Dadaab complex.

Innovation in ICT teaching: a Guardian roundtable debate

Experts believe the UK's lack of science graduates is a result of uninspiring ICT lessons in schools.


Last August, Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman of Google, ignited debate among educators, industrialists and policy-makers when he revealed that he was "flabbergasted to learn that, today, computer science isn't even taught as standard in UK schools". He went on: "Your IT curriculum focuses on teaching how to use software, but gives no insight into how it's made. That is just throwing away your great computing heritage."

The reaction to his speech suggested that Schmidt was saying what many were already thinking. In February, the Next Gen report, written by technology industry heavyweights Ian Livingstone and Alex Hope, had argued that the British video gaming and visual effects industry was losing its edge, in part because the ICT curriculum in schools was focused on office skills rather than programming skills. The Royal Society's report, Shut Down or Restart?, published in January this year, described the teaching of computing in schools as "highly unsatisfactory".

In January, spurred on by Schmidt's speech, the Guardian launched the digital literacy campaign in partnership with Google to improve the teaching of ICT. The education secretary, Michael Gove, meanwhile, announced that the current ICT curriculum, which he described as "demotivating and dull", would be replaced by a "flexible curriculum in computer science and programming", the content of which is to be announced in September.

Some of the key issues in improving the teaching of ICT in schools were discussed at a recent debate on digital literacy hosted by the Guardian in association with Google. The debate was held under the Chatham House rule, which allows comments to be reported without attribution, to encourage an open discussion.

Michael Gove to scrap 'boring' IT lessons

The teaching of computer science in school is to be dramatically overhauled, with the existing programme of study scrapped to make way for new lessons designed by industry and universities, Michael Gove will announce on Wednesday.

In a speech, the education secretary will say the existing curriculum in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has left children "bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word and Excel by bored teachers".

Instead he will, in effect, create an "open source" curriculum in computer science by giving schools the freedom to use teaching resources designed with input from leading employers and academics, in changes that will come into effect this September.

The announcement follows pressure from businesses critical of a shortage of computer-literate recruits – a deficit highlighted by a Guardian campaign launched this week.

ICT will remain compulsory and will still be taught at every stage of the curriculum. In a speech to BETT, a trade fair which showcases educational technology, Gove will say Britain should revive the legacy of the mathematician and wartime codebreaker Alan Turing by creating a generation of young people able to work at the forefront of technological change.

ICT lessons in schools are 'highly unsatisfactory

British schools have more computers per pupil than almost every other European country, but our computing lessons are still "highly unsatisfactory", a group of leading scientists has warned. 

The Royal Society, one of the country's most eminent scientific institutions, conducted an 18-month study into the teaching of computing in UK schools.

It found that teachers, academics and the computer science industry were in agreement that British schools had "lost their way" in teaching the subject. Schools are failing to expose pupils to the "interest, excitement and creativity that even a modest mastery of the subject offers", the study argues.

The shortcomings of computing classes –also known as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) lessons – have come under intense scrutiny over the last few months.

On Wednesday, Michael Gove, the education secretary, announced that the teaching of computer science was to be dramatically overhauled, with the existing programme of study scrapped to make way for new lessons designed by industry and universities.

LOCAL ICT ARTICLES : Cambodia looks to Malaysia on ICT development

KUALA LUMPUR: Cambodia is keen to learn from Malaysia in the fields of cyberlaw, cybersecurity, e-commerce and e-government.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sok An said this when he met with Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili in Phnom Penh yesterday.

According to a statement issued by Dr Ongkili’s office yesterday, Cambodia, which joined Asean in 1999, is seen as new to ICT development, and the country holds high regards for Malaysia in this area.

“The country looks forward to gaining benefits from its Asean membership and working with its neighbours,” it said.

Dr Ongkili was in Phnom Penh, leading a week-long specialised ICT trade mission to Indochina which also covers Hanoi (Vietnam) and Vientiane (Laos).

While in Phnom Penh, Dr Ongkili also met Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh.

Malaysia was Cambodia’s top investor and trade partner in the early 1990s before the economic crisis hit the region.

 — Bernama

Using ICT to compete in the global economy

KUALA LUMPUR: Local businesses must make use of the latest information and communication technology (ICT) solutions to enhance their productivity and to compete in the global economy, said SME CorpMalaysia CEO Datuk Hafsah Hashim.

She said one of the criteria for developed countries was that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should contribute to at least 40% of the gross domestic product (GDP), but local SMEs currently contributed 31% to GDP.

“This means that SMEs have to grow 1% or more per annum to reach the desired 40% by 2020 (the year Malaysia aims to achieve a developed-nation status). We need a leapfrog growth driven by innovation and productivity,” she said at the launch of Microsoft's Office 365 cloud computing service.

The launch marked the beginning of a private-public partnership between SME Corp and Microsoft Malaysia to enhance the take-up of cloud computing among Malaysian businesses.

Office 365 is Microsoft's newest ICT solution that utilises cloud computing to integrate business function over four primary products - office, sharepoint online, exchange online, and lync online.

“SME Corp and Microsoft will also promote the cloud service through joint roadshows as well as a Microsoft booth in SME Corp's new one-stop referral centre in KL Sentral,” Microsoft Malaysia managing director Ananth Lazarus told StarBiz.

Hafsah also said SME Corp would use the SME Competitiveness Rating for Enhancement (Score) programme to evaluate the ICT effectiveness of SMEs. SME Corp will take the lead in adopting cloud computing by using Office 365 in their KL Sentral office.

Adapted from The Star, 8 JULY 2011

Private sector vital to ICT-literate generation by 2020, says assemblyman

KUCHING: The private sector plays an important role when it comes to training trainers in the field of information-communication technology (ICT).
Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said since there were only eight years to 2020 when Malaysia becomes a developed nation, the private sector would help expedite training and enable trainers to create an ICT-proficient generation.
“We are fast approaching 2020 and it is clear that if we want an ICT literate society, we need to have teachers who are well-trained and equipped to pass on their knowledge.

ICT savvy: Dr Hazland (fourth left), Eduspec Holdings Berhad chief executive officer Lim Een Hong (left), Prof Mohd Fadzil (sixth left) and some of the winners of the 19th Dynabook National ICT Competition.

“These teachers need to have global mindsets and skilful too so that we are assured that we have a generation well-versed in ICT.
“These teachers are mostly in the private sector, which is why this sector is vital to our ICT development,” he said when closing the 19th Dynabook National ICT Competition at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) .
He was representing Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah.
Dr Hazland said it was not too late for Malaysia to achieve its goal towards having an ICT proficient society if the government had the support of the private sector.
As such, he said, the government always gave additional allocation for ICT education.
“We shouldn’t be easily satisfied. We need to constantly raise the bar because the world is getting more and more competitive. If we want to keep up, we need the keep on improving ourselves,” he said.
Earlier on, Unimas Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahman said competition like this should be held frequently since not only does it promote ICT, it would even unearth talented individuals.
“Who knows, we might find the next Steve Jobs (Apple co-founder). After all the late Steve Jobs started in his backyard and so did Bill Gates (Microsoft co-founder). If these two great minds can make it, I don’t see why our children can’t do so too,” he said.
The event had 650 students from 61 primary schools nationwide participating and the competition encompasses computer drawing at the junior and senior levels, general knowledge and typing skill.
The winners are namely Lee Jia Yu from SJK (C) Yuk Kwan, Perak (general knowledge), Ching Jia Sing from Kong Min Pusat, Penang (junior drawing), Nigel Leong Zheng Hao from SJK (C) Chung Hwa, Sabah (senior drawing) and Oh Coyun from SJK (C) Chong Hwa Setapak KL (typing).
The event was held by Dynabook, a subsidiary of Eduspec Holdings Berhad, Unimas and the Federation of Kuching and the Youth Section of Samarahan Division Chinese Associations.
The 20th Dynabook National ICT Competition will be held in Malacca.

Adapted from The Star, 5 DECEMBER 2012

A boost for ICT Training

CYBERJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has opened the first Huawei global training centre outside China that will put Malaysia on the world map of ICT players.
The Huawei Malaysia Global Training center here is aimed at positioning Malaysia as the venue for global professional training in the next generation of ICT technologies.
The Prime Minister said the facility would provide training to Huawei's global customers from the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

 

Testing, testing: Najib trying out one of the Huawei smartphones while Huawei country director of consumer business Wong Wey Hwa explains to the Prime Minister its functions in Cyberjaya as Huawei senior vice-president Victor Wang (centre) looks on.

“The fact that Huawei chose Malaysia over 140 countries to build this centre is a great honour,” he said.
“But I would like to think that it is a reflection of the increasingly important role we play in the global marketplace.
“All these initiatives by Huawei are expected to contribute a total of RM1.2bil in gross national income by 2020,” he said here yesterday.
Huawei is a leading global ICT solutions provider with about 150,000 employees and its revenue last year stood at US$35bil (RM111bil). Among its clients are 45 of the world's top 50 telecommunication operators.
Najib said Malaysia was entering a crucial phase of transformation where the challenges did not get any easier as it aimed to become a developed nation by 2020.
“That is why, in making that final push, Malaysia must make every effort to cultivate a knowledge-intensive and innovation-led economy
“To this end, I introduced the Economic Transformation Prog-ramme which identifies 12 key areas with the potential to drive economic growth and 131 Entry Point Projects to kick-start development across those sectors.
“The ETP's aim is simple: To drive growth, investment and create jobs without neglecting to take into account the complexity of modern economy and, in particular, the fact that digital technology continues to exert an increasing influence in every aspect of our lives from business and entertainment to communications, content and infrastructure,” he said.
Najib added that the digital economy now accounted for more than a third of global trade while total worldwide ICT spending was expected to grow by 3.7% to US$3.8tril (RM12.1tril) this year.

Adapted from The Star, 15 JUNE 2012

New ICT Mall for Kuala Lumpur

THE National ICT Association of Malaysia (Pikom) will be launching its first ever Pikom ICT Mall at CapSquare Kuala Lumpur on May 27.
Bandar Raya Developments Berhad (BRBD) group retail operations head John Sironic said, “This is the only ICT mall which has a theatre.
“We also have our own parking lot which can hold up to 2,000 cars.”

 

Tech stuff: Lenovo is one of the flagship stores at Pikom ICT Mall.

The CapSquare mall was opened in November 2007. However, due to its lack of success, BRBD joined forces with Pikom to create what is now known as the Pikom ICT Mall CapSquare, which has been renovated since October last year.
The mall has 102 kiosks taken up by a variety of companies.
Among them are Canon, iStudy by Apple, Lenovo’s concept and flagship store and telcos Digi and Maxis. The i-Xperience, the first-ever concept store for Imation, TDK and Memorex Worldwide is also located in the mall.
Tech stores aside, the mall will also have food and beverage outlets such as Starbucks, Modesto’s and Subway, as well as a gym and a supermarket.
“Pikom ICT Mall will be selling only certified original products with guaranteed after-sales service. Though this is a premium mall, there will be special offers to ensure that customers get value-for-money products,” Sironic said.

 

Spanking new: Pikom secretary chairman C.S. Chin (left) and Sironic (right) in front of the new Pikom ICT Mall at CapSquare, Kuala Lumpur

Various activities have been lined up for the grand launch. Top on the list is the screening of sci-fi movies such as Avatar, Trans-formers, Star Wars and Real Steel at the outdoor theatre from 8pm onwards, on May 25 and 26.
To pull the crowd further, BRDB has arranged for local celebrity Joey G to play host and performers like Anuar Zain, ManHanD, Instant Cafe Theatre and Upin & Ipin to entertain the guests.
Sci-fi characters like Darth Vader, Tron and Stormtroopers will also make an appearance.
The first 50 customers will receive iStudy’s RM1 deals on accessories. Additionally, the first 100 customers will be given Sennheiser earphones and a goody bag. Visitors can expect a variety of offers and promotions at the complex.
There will be a contest and lucky draw too for Facebook fans and shoppers that purchase products worth RM100 cumulatively or in a single receipt between now and May 27.
Some of the prizes include the iPad 3, an Alienware laptio, Macbook Air and more.
The mall is open daily between 10.30am and 9.30pm (theatre excluded). For details, visit www.capsquare.com.my


Adapted from The Stars, 21 MAY 2012

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