Global Event

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY YANG BERBAHAGIA PROF. DR. ZARIDA BINTI HAMBALI ON BEHALF OF SECRETARY GENERAL, MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REDEFINING & REFORMING MEDICAL / Global Event

2011-07-27

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KEYNOTE ADDRESS

BY YANG BERBAHAGIA PROF. DR. ZARIDA BINTI HAMBALI ON BEHALF OF SECRETARY GENERAL, MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION

AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REDEFINING & REFORMING MEDICAL EDUCATION

21 JULY, 2011, 9.00 am

PUTRA WORLD TRADE CENTRE, KUALA LUMPUR

YANG BERHORMAT DATUK ROSNAH BINTI ABD. RASHID SHIRLIN

DEPUTY MINISTER

MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA

YANG BERBAHAGIA IR PROF. DR. MOHAMED AMIN ALIAS

CONFERENCE DIRECTOR

WORLDWIDE CORPORATE RESOURCES

DISTINGUISHED PRESENTERS

AND FRIENDLY MEDIAS

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very Good Morning & Salam Satu Malaysia,

First and foremost I would like to welcome all guests, speakers and participants to the National Conference on REDEFINING & REFORMING MEDICAL EDUCATION : A CALL FOR SAFER, BETTER AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE HEALTHCARE�??. We are gathered here today to ponder and discuss on the issues and challenges. We are indeed blessed to be able to convene here today, together with such distinguished and learned persons, stakeholders, policy makers, administrators, concerned individuals and those who are directly or indirectly involved in the healthcare domain. The topic that I will be addressing is on the : �??GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES AND CHALLENGES FOR CREATING GRASS ROOT REFORM IN SYSTEMS, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES TO FIX, REFORM AND RE-BUILD A SUSTAINABLE WORLD CLASS MEDICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM�??.

It is clearly known amongst us all that our nation�??s shared Vision 2020 is amongst others, to be developed nation by 2020 with the ration of one doctor to 400 population (1:400) and a �??Knowledge-based Economy�??. Thus, Knowledge plays an integral part as the core foundation to drive our nation to greater heights. But the National Vision will only remain a vision if we do not strive and make a concerted effort to make it a reality. And in nurturing knowledge, it entails its early initiation that involves the continuum range from the early childhood years, right up to tertiary level, professional training and retraining, and the life-long learning phase. Thus, it is indisputable that the education system plays and eminent and crucial role in shaping the vibrancy and robustness of a nation. We are aware that the prevalent education ecosystem is rapidly changing, and its management decisions needs to be made with best practices as role models; and hence pragmatic and intelligent deliberations are paramount to the success of the country�??s overall education system and environment .

Today, I stand before you as a representative for Malaysia�??s Ministry of Higher Education. Yet, we at our Ministerial level, have always open our doors to welcome suggestions and ideas. We scour the world scenario, and transverse time and distances to study and analyse Global �??Best Practices�?? and to adapt and adopt them to suit our needs and environment, and in view of today�??s discussions�?�.for a better, safer and accountable healthcare provision and environment.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As of January 2011, there are 33 HEIs offering medical program. 17 have been accredited (8 public and 9 private HEIs). In order to streamline our course of actions, we have frameworks set in place, with various Education acts to buttress the Education structure; ever conscious of maintaining and sustaining a solid foundation as a legacy for generations to come. Quality is of the upmost important consideration, with the people�??s best interest at heart. Currently, Malaysia possesses a hosts of Education Acts, comprising of: the Education Act of 1995, the 1995 Amendments to the University and University Colleges Act of 1971 (1995 Amendments to the UUCA 1971), the Private Higher Education Institutions Act of 1996 (PHEIA 1996), and the National Council on Higher Education Act of 1996 (NCHEA 1996), in addition with the implementation of the Private Higher Education Institutions Act of 1996. Besides these Acts, we have also formed the �??Majlis Professor Negara�??- the National Professors Council (NPC) acting as advisors to advise and assist us in strengthening the nation�??s education system.

With the mushrooming of medical schools in Malaysia, concerns have even been raised pertaining to the standards of medical education itself. There are �??too many doctors in the house�??. In 5 years, there has been a 200% increase in graduate-doctor output. More than 4000 fresh doctors are licensed annually. Some questions and concerns that arose are: Are these newbie doctors established with the adequate clinical abilities and problem-solving skills needed? Are they fit enough to practice with the quality and credibility required? Are they psychologically wired? Are they passionate and committed in their profession?

To add to the present predicament..there are concerns that mediocre students are becoming doctors There are indications that there are no uniform consensus of absolute standard in the admission process from less-established, profit orientated foreign medical Universities. There are practices of huge capitation fees, the employment of agents, donations, the implementation of shorter/easier foundation programs �?? and the enabling of weak and mediocre students for admission. There have been numerous complaints and these cases are acknowledged.

Recent years have seen an excessive/overcrowding of housemen; with too few training hospitals. As the result of this, the housemen are getting insufficient clinical experience. The congested internship causes inadequate procedural and patient-compliance exposures. Their skills, attitudes, behavior and knowledge are questionable. Specialist doctors are overburdened with supervising 4 times more housemen. In 2008; there were 2,297 housemen, and in 2010 this figure has risen to 6,500 housemen. To make matters worse, in some hospitals there are more housemen than patients.

For that MORATORIUM of new Medical Program (new medical schools) has been endorsed by Cabinet and this moratorium is effective from 1^st May 2011 �?? 30^th April 2011. With the moratorium in place other strategic measures commence. These include the followings :

1. All HEIs must comply to the accreditation requirement through periodical monitoring visit.

2. Review on policies, regulations and criterias for any HEI to offer medical program.

3. Common entry academic qualifications for all HEIs;

4. Reducing the no of scholarship for medical schools abroad;

5. No Objection Certificate (NOC) for self-sponsored candidates applying medical schools abroad;

6. Cooperation between public and private medical schools locally;

7. Council of Examiners (MCE)?

Curriculum and content are indeed important aspects in any education set up�?�Apart from that, another important element in the matrix is the students. The Ministry of Higher Education has noted that it is highly critical and necessary that the entry requirements and benchmarked standards should be set�?� for the selection of students in all public and private medical colleges. Even more so in private colleges as to ensure that these colleges are not driven solely on their commercial interests. It should be the call for all medical colleges to be above and beyond that, to produce quality doctors and healthcare personnel.

In view of these identified challenges, the government and its agencies, stakeholders, private entities and the public should execute a comprehensive and integrated effort with a viable short-term and long-term plan. Among the strategies that should be in place is the reform in our medical schools and nursing colleges, which should be closely monitored. There should be the incorporation of research findings into medical practice. The Medical pedagogical approaches are being reviewed and monitored periodically . In addition, as mentioned earlier, there is need to make adjustments and adaptation of Western models to match local context. The Problem-Based-Learning (PBL) approach should be incorporated in the teaching-learning experience. This should lead to a vast improvement in the students�?? problem-finding and problem-solving skills. It is imperative that the medical students should no longer be passive learners but they should shift their learning mode to that of a self-directed, problem-based mode.

There should a balanced education system�?�.meaning that the general public should also be educated on health issue matters, to be better-informed patients or family member or care givers, thus ensuring a more comprehensible intelligent interactions with doctors and nurses. In studying the Malaysian Medical Schools and Healthcare matrix, certain unique contextual patterns emerged. It is realized that in order for local needs to be fulfilled, the provision of community-based health care service should be set up where necessary. This is due to the multiethnic, multicultural and multilingual society. Thus, it is noted that specific healthcare services are tailored to meet the needs of certain communities. An example of such a system that is being practiced is that of the School of Medicine, at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah. It has an integrated basic medicine and clinical skills curriculum, and tailored to best-fit the local needs of the people of Sabah. In addition, the Medical School of Universiti Malaysia of Sarawak has also taken up the community-based curriculum, with the value added adoption of the PBL approach to meet the heath care needs of the people of Sarawak.. The two mentioned universities are both sensitive to the ethno beliefs and cultural practices of the ethnic groups of the people of Sabah and Sarawak, to provide the best healthcare services

Recent global research findings on Medical Education reforms have suggested that many regions are adapting and localizing Western models to suit their needs and socio-cultural environment. Some of the challenges faced are resource constraints, and the need to upgrade the local curricula to meet the global benchmarked standards. In his paper on �??The Reform of Medical Education�??, Professor Victor Lim identified several challenges faced by medical education today. Amongst them are the inflexible medical training that are traditional and not sufficiently student-centred, the emphasis on memorization and rote learning with insufficient clinical experience gathering which were done in haste, with the lack of understanding and holistic view of patient experience and a poor grasp of the civic and advocacy roles of physicians, medical practitioners and healthcare service providers.

Challenges in implementing the strategies are :

1. Small number of trained and experienced staffs for the Enforcement division to run the monitoring tasks and further take action;

2. Getting input/complaint/comment/support and cooperation from stakeholders with �??bad medical schools�??;

3. Irresponsible AGENTS doing for BUSSINESS only;

4. Withdrawal of accreditation to these non-performers;

5. �??no room for appeal for HEIs which fail to comply to the accreditation regulations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In considering teaching approaches, Medical School, Nursing Schools and Health Care training centres should seriously take into account the various learning styles of their students. They should design their teaching program to match their students�?? personalities and preferences. Various methodology and pedagogical approaches must be considered with the integration of disciplines, such as the behavioural sciences, the liberal studies, philosophy and other relevant courses to produce holistic doctors, nurses and health care providers. All medical schools should provide a wide range of teaching strategies that satisfy the learning needs of students.

With these questions and issues in mind, our medical schools, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Health, the relevant regulatory authorities, the professional societies and associations, and other major stakeholders need to convene to discuss and set the direction that the medical education in Malaysia should execute. In discussing the �??Government strategies and challenges for creating grass root reform in systems, regulations and policies to fix, reform and re-build a sustainable world class Medical Education system�??�?��?��?��?�a comprehensive and concerted integrated effort is needed to identify the challenges and gaps, in order to create the reforms. To find the remedy is not as easy as concocting a magical potion. There might be some prescription that can be used as an immediate remedy in the short term period�?�while others may need a longer time frame to bear fruits. In terms of sustainability, any possible reforms should factor in the principles of cost-effectiveness, alongside the considerations to improve the health status of the population, to improve the responsiveness of health services to the population, and to improve the financial fairness of funding for the health system, with the enabling for the provision of the required quantity of healthcare providers, doctors and nurses without compromising quality.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With the unfolding of the various vibrant and exciting strategies and programs in place, ongoing or in the pipeline, I am sure that you will have a genuine meeting of minds and I wish your discussions and deliberations every possible success. THANK YOU.

Green Technology Financing Scheme To Play Role In Development Of Green Technology / Global Event

2011-07-27

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water hopes green financing, through the Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS), will play its role in enhancing the application and development of green technology for green projects and products.

Its secretary-general Datuk Loo Took Gee said the GTFS was introduced on Jan 26 last year with the objective of attracting private sector participation in green projects and product technology entrepreneurship.

The Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) has been entrusted to manage the implementation of the GTFS,

Loo said, in her keynote address at the National Seminar on Advocating Green Financing, here Thursday.

Her speech was read by Mothi Sk. Kothandabhany, Under Secretary, Green Technology Division of the Ministry.

The seminar was organised by the Centre for Energy Studies, Institute Sultan Iskandar and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in collaboration with Global Event Malaysia.

Loo said the scheme is expected to benefit 140 companies by the end of next year.

As of May 31, 2011, she said GreenTech Malaysia had processed 102 applications, whereby 83 projects secured the Green Project Certificate.

The certificate would entitle the successful applicants to secure financial assistance from participating financial institutions.

However, of the 83 projects, only 20 had managed to secure loans from the financial institutions amounting to RM326.9 million with the bulk of it from the energy sector (11), water and wastewater sector (eight)and one from the transportation sector.

\"From the paltry figure of 20, we can conclude that the take-up rate from the financial institutions has not been encouraging,\" she said.

To improve the number of bankable projects, she said GreenTech Malaysian has now refined its processing of applications by including a Business Review Presentation.

All applicants will be given the opportunity to present their business model to a panel of interested bankers.

\"The quality of the business plan by applicants needs to be vastly improved in order to make it more attractive to bankers.

\"To potential producers and users of green technology, I urge the industry players to come forward and utilise this financial incentive, as it is envisaged that the growth of green technology will be the salutary driver of economic growth of nation,\" Loo added.

She said incentives in the form of a soft loan with a two per cent interest subsidy, is provided by the participating financial institutions, with 60 per cent of the disbursed loan guaranteed by the government up to a total disbursed sum of RM1.5 billion.

OPENING REMARKS BY YB DATUK ROSNAH BT HJ ABD RASHID SHIRLIN DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH MALAYSIA OPENING CEREMONY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REDEFINING & REFORMING MEDICAL EDUCATION / Global Event

2011-07-27

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OPENING REMARKS BY

YB DATUK ROSNAH BT HJ ABD RASHID SHIRLIN

DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH MALAYSIA

OPENING CEREMONY

THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REDEFINING & REFORMING MEDICAL EDUCATION

DATE / TIME :

THURSDAY, JULY 21^st, 2011 @ 9.00 AM

VENUE :

ARAS 2, PUTRA WORLD TRADE CENTRE, KUALA LUMPUR

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalammualaikum, Salam Sejahtera Dan Salam 1 Malaysia

Thank you to the Master of Ceremony,

Yang Berbahagia Ir. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Amin Alias

Conference Director

Worldwide Corporate Resources

Yang Berbahagia Prof. Dr. Zarida Binti Hambali

Director

Academic Development Management Division

Ministry Of Higher Education

Distinguished Presenters

Valued Participants,

And Friendly Medias,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very Good Morning & Salam Satu Malaysia,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organizer, Worldwide Corporate Resources for graciously inviting me to officiate this National Conference on Redefining & Reforming Medical Education: A Call for Safer, Better and More Accountable Healthcare.

It is understood that the objectives of today�??s National Conference is to redefine and renegotiate the healthcare landscape on uncharted territories by providing and channeling a roadmap, on balancing safety and accountability. It is hoped that the presentations and discussions that will be held soon will offer delegates a constructive and compelling case for building a plethora of exclusive insights on the healthcare landscape on issues, causes and solutions.

This conference is a platform for the realization of intelligent dialogue and to consolidate disparate, divergent or like-minded voices, to realize coherent and cohesive dialogues; and to disseminate information on care and safety which are matters of public interest, for a more informed society.

In order to accomplish these goals, accurate, reliable and pragmatic information are necessary. Exposure, knowledge and awareness of the newly defined amendments and critical issues in health care are very salient and important considerations. Those involved in the health care industry need to make accurate decisions, stay current with the latest news, regulations and methods in the healthcare profession. They need to keep abreast with government agendas, opportunities and groundbreaking ideas, mine rich resources, engage in dialogues that are rich with substance, share and emulate unique experiences and best practices. It is also equally important that they should gain insightful knowledge and study key issues to improve their performance and effectiveness. Their Performance and service delivery must be continuously improved, I need to emphasise here that one of the most important element to consider is on �??Knowledge�?? that is relevant, and that encompasses appropriate education, training and experience to produce a workforce that is efficient and effective.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Ministry of Health, I will discuss some important issues that require immediate attention and concerted efforts from all quarters to address. There are various issues that the medical world and global health care in general and in Malaysia in particular are facing. Among the issues facing the health care scenario in Malaysia today is the influx of nursing colleges-where the current statistics show that there are 106 nursing institutions in existence to date. Thus, what ensued as a consequent of this phenomenon is that the quality and safety issues as well as the accountability of nurses to patients themselves are now being disputed and questioned. There is a possibility that there are gaps in the education systems. Doubts are cast on the products of the various institutions, as well as the quality of service delivery by the nurses.

Citing a speech by our Esteemed Minister of Health, Yang Berhormat Dato�?? Liow Tiong Lai, in conjunction with the opening of the International Nurses Day on May 12, 2011 he stated that \"A career in nursing involves the practice of integrated Team Work\". Yes, this aspect is crucial indeed in achieving the successful delivery of services. He further added that \"As of December 2010, Malaysian nurses from the public and private sectors are numbered more than 90 thousand people. Meanwhile, the theme of Nurses�?? Day celebration in 2011 is \"Closing the Gap: Increasing Access and Equity�??. Therefore in view of that, we must endeavor to identify what are the gaps that need to be addressed.

At the Ministry of Health level, there are a variety of programs, guidelines, policies for health care and medical practice. Among them are the Guidelines for CPD (Continuous Professional Development). There are also programmes for nurses/midwives for which there is a guideline for the development of nursing based on the requirements and evaluations results. Activities such as workshops and conferences are conducted, nevertheless a heightened sense of awareness should be instilled, and that all these endeavors should be enhanced and value added.

It should be noted and observed that at the Global level, one of the aims of the roadmap of many nations is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which is to reduce disparities and close gaps on matters related to equality to health rights and access at all levels, notwithstanding rich or poor, and does not discriminate gender and age, nor differentiate those from the rural or urban population. Among the goals related to the healthcare domain are the MDG Goals 4, 5 and 6; which are to �??Reduce Child Mortality Rate�??, �??Improve Maternal Health�?? and �??Combat HIV/AID, Malaria and Other Diseases�?? by 2015. Hence in order to realize these goals, comprehensive and concerted efforts at the national level should be in place, starting from the grassroots, right up to the policy makers and administrators.

Although there exist various Acts and policies involving medical and healthcare, the workforce is a very essential and vital component, supported by a conducive infrastructure with adequate equipment and infrastructure, and complemented with knowledge and experience. Amongst the various Acts in the field of medicine and healthcare in Malaysia to mention a few are the: Amended Medical Act 1974, the Mental Health Act 2001, Private Healthcare Facilities And Services Act 1998, Fees Act 1951�??Fees (Medical)(Amendment) Order 1994, the Fees Act 1951�??Fees (Medical) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 1994 and many more. However, this is not enough if the accountability, efficiency and high work commitments is still at low levels or are non-existent. Positive attitudes and high efficiency should be nurtured and trained at the tertiary level, education institutions, training centres and other institutions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

There is the emergence of many new medical institutions akin to mushrooms that emerged after the rain. Too Fast and Too Soon which resulted in low-performing medical schools of which the quality can be disputed. Consequently, there arise questions on: Are their curriculums, admission process, research facilities and lecturers, given an appropriate and commensurate accreditation and authorization? What are the standards, the legitimacy and quality assurance carried out at these new medical schools? These are critical questions that haunt us. Given the present situation, there are 33 medical institutions in Malaysia. We are apprehensive on the possibility that just because these institutions desires to meet market and industry solely for the commercial values and returns, quality and accountability are neglected and compromised by taking shortcuts and cutting corners.

Public perceptions are that, the MQE-Medical Qualifying Exams is not standardised and transparent enough, which has aroused public concerns. However, this particular concern with regards to MQE are being scrutinised and addressed to ensure benchmarked standards are adhered to., irrespective of race, the country where the prospective doctor or doctors from abroad is coming from, and even from Malaysia, as well as aspects as from which medical education centre that they graduated from there is no compromise on what the standard evaluation system should be all should go through a rigorous Malaysian MQE.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Doctors, nurses and those who entered the Medical and Health Care industry must have a keen interest in the field, commitment, endurance, possesses deep comprehensive knowledge that is appropriate, which is extensive and up-to-date in their chosen fields, their qualifications

Keynote Address by Tan Sri Sidek , Chief Secretary to the Government :National Conference on Improving Accountability and Public Service Management Efficiency: Transforming Public Services Efficiency and Responsiveness. / Global Event

2010-05-28

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Bismillahir rahmanir rahim

Assalamualaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

A very good morning and Salam 1 Malaysia

Prof. Dr. Mohd Hamdan bin Haji Ahmad, Executive Director of Institute Sultan Iskandar, UTM

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Amin Alias

Conference Director

Y.Bhg Datuk-Datuk

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

First and foremost allow me to thank Institute Sultan Iskandar, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia for inviting me to share my thoughts at this Conference on Improving Accountability and Public Service Management Efficiency: Transforming Public Services Efficiency and Responsiveness.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

APOLLO 11

2. On 25^th May 1961, John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America in a Special Address to Congress on the Importance of Space stated that i believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth In another speech he said - - We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organise and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

3. The Apollo 11 space flight landed the first humans on Earth\'s Moon before the decade was out, on 20 July, 1969. Apollo 11 fulfilled U.S. President John F. Kennedy\'s goal of reaching the moon before the Soviets as he had expressed in his Speech in 1961 to the United States Congress.

GREAT MINDS, GREAT NATIONS

4. Great nations and the most competitive have earned their keep because they act on their Visions and act on them collectively as a nation. They set these visions not because it is easy, not because it is fancy or chic, but because they share a common foresight to the world that will be, the world that will dictate the events of tomorrow, not today. These are societies that have the wits not only to plan but also to act beyond the realities of today. The stomach to move the boundaries beyond the comforts of today. These are the most competitive nations of today and tomorrow. We need to only see them from the World rankings.

5. The world we live in today is malleable and fluid to the environment that surrounds us. From hard core prelims, like how technology evolves and overtakes today�??s vogue, to the vectors that direct talent movement to market evolution are today ALL open to new winds of change. A new map is being drawn and re-drawn by the ink of the world events. But of consequence to this new order, is a new kind of mind that is emerging. New outlook, new thinking, new generation with new expectations.

TRAJECTORY OF CAREER PATHS

6. Fifty years ago someone working for General Motors (The largest carmaker in the USA) for instance will probably spend his entire 30 to 40-year career with General Motors. But project that forward to 25 years later, that same person who joined General Motors may move to join Toyota, then perhaps Ford, for career enhancement before he retires. To present time now, another 25 years later, a person who joins General Motors, may leave and join Goldman Sachs as an investment banker then decide he/she will do an MBA before moving into journalism and public sector all in a grand total of less than 4 years, working probably in 4 to 5 different industry profiles, in 4 totally independent competencies. The same too is now happening in Japan the hallowed ground of life-long employment.

7. The times when four generations of a family ran the same family business is probably a portrait for the hanging in our memorabilia today. Todays\' scene depicts four generations of a family running different businesses and vocation in almost certainly non-complementary areas.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

8. That is the world that is drawn for us today. The demography that surrounds us now. These vistas of space will be more nebulous and imperceptible for the decades and generations ahead. The generations that will ensue us will be working in jobs we may not even have conceived of today, studying courses that never can be imagined now. They would have found cure to illness of today but may be faced with new unfathomable ailments tomorrow. Addressing global issues for a new order and admittedly, seeking new solutions which we may not even have envisioned. This fresh pace will create new challenges as it dispels old. Even if we each want to live by the dictum hide your light under a bushel and go quietly into the world, the world will shine its lights of successes and failures of societies and nations by its governing rules. The world today calls to account all that make it, as a nation does to all that claim a stake in it.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

CARDS DEALT, CARDS PLAYED

9. Though we may not be fully in control of the cards we are dealt with, we can command control in how we play the hand, the cards. The choice is up to us to define our rules to success and deliver that in the odds of what is before us.

10. Governments can set Visions and policies, but it is the society in its collective vehicle that can deliver it. JFK on his own could not have enabled the Apollo 11. Nor could Gandhi for India, Nelson Mandela for South Africa or Tunku Abdul Rahman for Malaysia. It needed the commitment of the nation in its every stratum to deliver its dues. What Governments must however do is provide opportunity and not smother it. They must enable productivity and not repress it. We must enable, facilitate and make possible.

11. It is with this Vision in mind that the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) was launched by YAB Perdana Menteri on 28 January this year. The GTP in its acronyms touches on some chief nuggets that will move Malaysia to its next stable of potentials. I will not go into the details of GTP here as it is well covered. But suffice to say the GTP in its blueprint alone can never make Malaysia satisfy its full potential. It requires the GTP to be fully implemented, and more.

12. The greater responsibility of what a nation looks like, depends on our minds, our own attitudes. The FUEL to GTP\'s success is mindset and cultural change. GTP is only an engine. So is the 10^th Malaysia Plan, so is the New Economic Model. All of these initiatives must see corresponding mindset and cultural change in our society. It would be naive to even suggest that by virtue of these blueprints and commitment from the Government, we will see a developed country in Malaysia by a certain timeline. The National Key Result Areas identified today in GTP are to fulfil the needs for the times. These measures will vary with times. From our commitment to reducing crime, combating corruption, enhancing education standards, raising the living standards of low income households, improving basic rural infrastructure to urban public transportation enhancement - - the measures will change with the needs of the times. As we meet today\'s measures, there will be others that need fulfilling tomorrow.

13. The responsibility of reaching a developed nation and the most competitive lies with all of us. How we address issues from our own homes to the market at large, will determine how far or near we are to realising our Vision for a Developed Nation. How we each conduct our own selves in our various roles, from our dining rooms to our boardrooms, will influence the success of achieving this.

14. Our social cohesion and consensus will show how fast and able we are to pick up and keep going for the next battle ground of growth and prosperity. We cannot allow silo distractions to detract us from collectively building this society. The strength and integrity of our institutions must imbue people�??s trust in the Government. Ultimately, our brand strength as a nation, our competitiveness as a market and our relevance as a society hinge on the trust we, the public service, help build as a Government. That will define the ultimate sustainable competitive advantage for Malaysia.

THE MIND GAME

15. Fundamental to any transformation, development and progress is the MIND. Great economies and strong nations globally are forced to shed the Closed Kingdom\'s mindset, because to prosper we need allies, we need critiques, we need friends. Our critiques, no matter the severity with which they criticise, show that they still care about what we do, what the country can aspire for. So therefore listen more, speak less when criticised; and, DO MORE.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

16. The hard facts of competitiveness are that it is blind to birth rights. Competitiveness is blind to gender, race, creed and colour. It only deciphers meritocracy and delivery to results set. Competitiveness demands for dignity and integrity, transparency and accountability to be the prevailing creed in a society. Akin to Deng Xioping. i don\'t care if it\'s a white cat or a black cat. It\'s a good cat so long as it catches mice.

17. Singapore and Hong Kong have emerged the most competitive nations globally today outpacing the United States. Sweden is the most competitive economy in the European Union. The underlying parameters that make these countries stand apart from the rest is attributable to their innovative thinking, aggressiveness in adopting new technologies and the relevance of their R&D to private sector needs. Their governments are synchronised not only with the needs of the local economies, but also of global imperatives. In short, they have bridged the gap between public and private agendas in serving the collective society and the country.

18. Communally we must weave the threads to Malaysia�??s coat with the many colours and uniqueness that makes Malaysia, Malaysia. As we become more diverse in our society and culture, we must embrace the common values of ethics and humanity that brings peace, justice and dignity into our society. The values that will have us overcome our differences, and bind us in our similarities and likeness.

19. To be able to do this the mind must understand and be aware of the surroundings. It must be agile enough to adapt, adjust, adopt and rise to the occasion. Move beyond comfort zones and always push the limits. We can no longer live on the philosophy of Leave me alone or Live and let live. To make it collectively as a nation, we must today live by the motto Live and help live.

20. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Britain during World War II who went to being the only Prime Minister of Britain to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature was famed to have said\'The price of greatness is responsibility. In a speech in Harvard he asserted that one cannot rise to be in many ways the leading community in the civilised world without being involved in its problems, without being convulsed by its agonies and inspired by its causes.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

PAYING IT FORWARD

21. Malaysia has so much to offer and so much more to grow. We must never even begin to think that we have arrived for when we start thinking so, the seeds of arrogance and complacency will seep into our minds, our way of life, our society. We must work towards setting new benchmarks. From how we address growth in private sector, to infusing efficiency not only in the public sector, but also and more so, in the private sector, to eradicating corrupt and destructive behaviour and culture in our society to the values with which we nurture our families, all will define that new benchmark we set. Our own attitudes to work and life will define where and how far our country can go. As divergent and possibly conflicting our views could span as individuals, we must at some point agree to converge and come together as a country.

22. In 2000, Catherine Ryan Hyde\'s novel Pay It Forward was published and adapted into the Warner Brothers film Pay It Forward. It tells the story of an 11-year-old schoolboy in Las Vegas, given a class project to complete by his social studies teacher. His task is to come up with a plan that will change the world through direct action. Trevor then comes up with the plan to pay it forward by doing a good deed for three people who must in turn each do good deeds for three other people.

23. Our lives are about paying it forward. It is said that the order of nature is such that we cannot render benefits to those from whom we receive them, or only seldom. But the benefit we receive must be rendered again, line for line, deed for deed, cent for cent, to somebody else, probably in a future state.

24. Whether you are running businesses in the private sector, or in the public sector, the young in schools to the old, as a society we must have the humility and preparedness to seek, pursue and examine alternatives. Always asking what more could be done, what should we change, have we travelled this road before, or shall we take the other less travelled? How can we better our education system, enhance our healthcare, increase our trade, eradicate ills and poverty in our society, raise living standards, amplifying our strength and peace as a society and nation? How do we eradicate the rules and systems that no longer work and bring in the new?

25. If we want to be relevant, and continue to be relevant we have simply got to be extraordinary and unusual. Ultimately we can only be so if the people want to make it so. Governments and markets cannot do it singularly. Media and NGOs must assume their due roles in nation building too for the collective good of all.

26. From the businesses we build, to the policies we implement, and the talents we attract and recruit, to our social security policies will define how we pay it forward to our next generation. The decisions and policies we singularly and collectively pursue today, is by all accounts our payment forward to the next generation, to a future we may not all be part of. As the last generation built today for us, we owe it to the next to build tomorrow on solid and sturdy grounds. As would the next to its ensuing generation.

27. Since the launch of Apollo, Americans have travelled to the moon six times. Twice in 1969 (Apollos 11 & 12). Twice in 1971 (Apollos 14 & 15). Twice in 1972 (Apollos 16 & 17). JFK was assassinated on 22 November, 1963. He never witnessed any of the launches. He paid it forward to his country.

28. SO, let us all endeavour to pay it forward for our country.

On that note I am please to officiate the National Conference on Improving Accountability and Public Service Management Efficiency, and wish you all every success in your deliberations and solutions for our collective lasting improvement, as Malaysians.

Thank you

Wabillahittaufiq walhidayah. Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

BERNAMA NEWS: Chief Secretary: Mindset and attitude central to country\'s success / Global Event

2010-05-28

Description:
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 :Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said today the utmost essence to the success of the Government Transformation Plan (GTP) is the mindset and cultural change of the people.
Grab a Celcom Blue Bear(TM) and stand to walk away with RM10,000!

He said the mindset and attitude of Malaysians would also determine the future success of the government, because although the government could set visions and policies, it was society in its collective vehicle that could deliver it.

It would be naive to even suggest that by virtue of the blueprints of the plans and commitments set out by the government, the country will be a developed country by a certain timeline.

GTP is only an engine. So is the 10th Malaysia Plan, so is the New Economic Model.

All of these initiatives must see a corresponding mindset and cultural change in our society, he said in his keynote address at the national conference on Improving Accountability and Public Service Management Efficiency here.

The one-day event was organised by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia(UTM) Institute Sultan Iskandar (ISI)

Sidek also stressed that Malaysians must not be complacent with what they have achieved but to continue setting new benchmarks.

This was important as the world today was malleable and fluid to the surrounding environment, he said.

We must never begin to think that we have arrived, for when we start thinking so, the seeds of arrogance and complacency will seep into our minds, our way of life, our society.

Our own attitudes to work and life will define where and how far our country can go,he added.

He said the people must also be agile enough to adapt, adjust, adopt and rise to the occasion as well as move beyond comfort zones and always push the limits.

We can no longer live on the philosophy of leave me alone or Live and let live. To make it collectively as a nation, we must today live by the motto \'Live and help live.

In this regard, Sidek called for co-operation from all sectors in society to work together.

If we want to be relevant, and continue to be relevant, we have simply got to be extraordinary and unusual.

Ultimately, we can only be so if the people want to make it so. Governments and markets cannot do it singularly. Media and NGOs must assume their due roles in nation building too for the collective good of all, he added.:Bernama

THESTAR : Sidek: People must undergo mindset and cultural change / Global Event

2010-05-28

Description:

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will never realise its full potential with the introduction of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) blueprint alone.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan said it required the programme to be fully implemented followed by mindset and cultural change among the people to ensure its success.

The GTP is only an engine, so are the 10th Malaysia Plan and the New Economic Model; we must see corresponding mindset and cultural change in our society.It will be naive to even suggest that by virtue of these blueprints and commitment from the Government, Malaysia will become a developed country by a certain timeline,he said in his keynote address at a national conference on improving accountability and Public Service management efficiency here yesterday.

Sidek said the Government could set visions and policies but it was society that could deliver it through the commitment of the nation in its every stratum.

What the Government must do, he said, was to provide opportunity and not smother it.

He also said Singapore and Hong Kong had emerged as the most competitive nations in the world due to their innovative thinking, aggressiveness in adopting new technologies and the relevance of their Research and Development to private sector needs.

Their governments are synchronised not only with the needs of the local economies but also of global imperatives, and they have bridged the gap between public and private agendas in serving the collective society and the country.

For us, as we become more diverse in our society and culture, we must embrace the common values of ethics and humanity that bring peace, justice and dignity into our society, he said.

He also said Malaysians must always strive for higher achievements and not feel complacent with what they have achieved so far.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION LAW:OPENING AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HONORABLE SENATOR HENG SEAI KIE / Global Event

2009-10-26

Description:
OPENING AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HONORABLE SENATOR HENG SEAI KIE

DEPUTY MINISTER II, MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE, MALAYSIA

AT THE OPENING OF NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION LAW

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 OCTOBER 2009

PROFESSOR DR. HAMDANI CAMPUS DIRECTOR,                                                                                                                                                                    UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS

PROFESSOR DR. MAHBOB SALIM                                                                                                                EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR , INSTITUTE SULTAN ISKANDAR                                                                                     UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

PROF. DR. MOHAMED AMIN ALIAS                                                                                                                     HEAD OF BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION DIVISION,                                                                            INSTITUTE SULTAN ISKANDAR, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

DISTINGUISHED PARTICIPANTS,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

MAY I BEGIN BY WISHING YOU ALL A VERY GOOD MORNING.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE INVITED TO THIS NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION LAW THAT SEEKS TO DISCUSS MANY ANGLES OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON PERSONAL DATA PRIVACY AND SECURITY IN THE LIGHT OF UPCOMING TABLING OF THE PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION (PDP) BILL IN MALAYSIAN PARLIAMENT IN NEAR FUTURE. I CONGRATULATE THE INSTITUTE OF SULTAN ISKANDAR (ISI) OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY MALAYSIA (UTM) AND GLOBALEVENT MALAYSIA FOR COMMISSIONING THIS INITIATIVE AS A PART OF NECESSARY EXPOSURE AND SOCIALISATION OF THE PDP LAW FOR THE PUBLIC AND ALL POTENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS.

AFTER YEARS OF WAITING, SOON THE PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION DRAFT LAW WILL SURFACE ON THE TABLE OF THE PARLIAMENT TO BE DISCUSSED, DEBATED AND FURTHER ACTED UPON. THIS DRAFT LAW IS SET TO BE ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR MALAYSIA AS THIS IS THE LAW THAT WILL REDEFINE MANY ASPECTS OF GOVERNANCE, TRADE, BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.

(ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADE, BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT)

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE DRAFTING AND ENACTMENT OF LAW THAT REGULATES THE COLLECTION, PROCESSING, STORAGE AS WELL AS EXPLOITATION OF PEOPLE�??S PERSONAL DATA IS TRULY A WITNESS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA CANNOT CARE LESS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL BUSINESS AND TRADE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GIVING EMPHASIS ON THE PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS AND PUBLIC AT LARGE.

MALAYSIA HAS ALWAYS PLACED A GREAT IMPORTANCE ON THE NEED TO INVEST BOTH BY LOCAL AND FOREIGN INVESTORS. FOR THAT PURPOSE, IT IS NECESSARY TO PREPARE MALAYSIA AS A GOOD IF NOT A PERFECT PLATFORM TO LAND THOSE INVESTMENTS IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. THIS PLATFORM SHOULD BE STRUCTURED ON AN INVESTMENT-FRIENDLY LEGAL FRAMEWORK WHICH IS WHAT THE PDP LAW AIMS TO BE, THAT IS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA FOR COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS AND MATTERS INCIDENTAL THERETO.

IN THE PAST DECADE WE HAVE BEEN READING HORRIFYING STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE LOOSING THEIR MONEY DUE TO CREDIT CARD ABUSES, OR COMPANIES LOOSING REPUTATION DUE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS�?? PRIVACY INFRINGEMENT, BUSINESSES RUINED BY DATA FRAUD, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CONCERNED BY PERSONAL DATA LEAKAGES. ON SEPARATE INCIDENTS, SOME QUARTERS OF PUBLIC HAVE BEEN DENIED BANK LOAN BECAUSE OF INACCURACIES ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL HISTORY; EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAD TO DEAL WITH TROUBLE DUE TO MISTAKENLY-SENT EMAILS; AND NATIONAL E-GOVERNMENT READINESS BEING UNDERMINED BY DATA PRIVACY CONCERNS. ALL THESE INCIDENTS ARE A SMALL TIP OF ICEBERG THAT THREATENS THE INTEGRITY OF MALAYSIA AS AN EMERGING KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY.

INDEED, THE SECURITY, INTEGRITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF PERSONAL DATA IS NOT BUT A FUNDAMENTAL FACTOR IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MALAYSIA�??S KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY WHICH IS ENABLED BY THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT). THE MASSIVE GROWTH OF E-COMMERCE WHICH IS GEARED BY THE ADVANCE OF THE ICT HAS TRANSFORMED THE VALUE OF PERSONAL DATA FROM A MERE ADMINISTRATIVE AND NON-COMMERCIAL FULFILLMENT TO A VALUABLE ASSET WORTHY OF BEING A COMMODITY ON ITS OWN. UPON PROPER MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC HANDLING, PERSONAL DATA CAN BE A SOURCE OF WEALTH BOTH FOR THE OWNERS AND THE DATA SUBJECTS. CONVERSELY, WHEN IT FALLS TO IRRESPONSIBLE HANDS, THE MISUSE OF PERSONAL DATA WILL CREATE A SERIES OF LOSSES, RANGING FROM FINANCIAL TO LEGAL LIABILITIES, FROM COMMERCIAL TO PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT.

IF THIS IS NOT CONVINCING ENOUGH, THE CURRENT TREND OF GLOBAL TRADE WOULD GIVE MALAYSIA NO CHANCE TO BACK-TRACK AS PDP LAW IS NOW A TRADE PRE-REQUISITE RECOGNISED BY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES. IN FACT, ADEQUATE REGULATION ON PERSONAL DATA IS NOW MADE A PREREQUISITE BY MANY COUNTRIES FOR INITIATING OR CONTINUING BILATERAL TRADE. THIS IS EVIDENT, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE EUROPEAN UNION�??S DATA PROTECTION DIRECTIVE 1995 (DIRECTIVE NO. 95/46/EC) IN WHICH, THE ARTICLE 25 CLEARLY MENTIONS AMONG OTHERS THAT, �??�?�THE TRANSFER TO A THIRD COUNTRY OF PERSONAL DATA WHICH ARE UNDERGOING PROCESSING OR ARE INTENDED FOR PROCESSING AFTER TRANSFER MAY TAKE PLACE ONLY IF �?�THE THIRD COUNTRY IN QUESTION ENSURES AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF PROTECTION.�??

IT IS THIS ADEQUACY REQUIREMENT THAT HAS FORCED YEARS OF NEGOTIATION AND CONTENTION BETWEEN BRUSSELS AND WASHINGTON BEFORE SAFE HARBOUR PRINCIPLES WERE FINALLY AGREED. IT IS ONLY ABOUT TIME THAT THIS ADEQUACY REQUIREMENT WILL AFFECT THE TRADE IN THIS REGION AS THE COUNTRIES THAT CONSTITUTE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC) HAVE ALSO RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS LEGAL DEVELOPMENT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

MALAYSIA IS MOVING EVER CLOSER TOWARDS THE REALISATION OF THE GOALS OF VISION 2020. OUR GOALS OF CREATING A DEVELOPED NATION IN OUR OWN MOULD EMBODIES THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADVANCE LEGAL AND REGULATORY INFRASTRUCTURES. WE RECOGNISE THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT SYSTEMS OF REGULATION, GOVERNANCE AND BUSINESS ARE CAPABLE OF RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALISATION AND MOST IMPORTANLY THE OPPPORTUNITIES OF THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY.

THE INVENTION OF MANY ICT-FACILITATED AND WEB-BASED BUSINESS PROCESSES, TOGETHER WITH THE EVER-INCREASING VALUE EMBODIED IN DATA ASSETS SUCH AS TRADE SECRETS, CUSTOMERS INFORMATION AND OTHER STRATEGIC BUSINESS DATABASES, HAVE LED TO THE COMMODIFICATION AND COMMERCIALISATION OF PERSONAL DATA. THIS COULD BE THE REALISATION OF THE WORDS OF OUR FORMER PRIME MINISTER TUN MAHATHIR MOHAMAD WHEN HE SAID THAT, �??IN THE FUTURE, THE DETERMINING CHARACTER OF THE WEALTHINESS OF A COUNTRY MAY BE THE ACCESSIBILITY TO INFORMATION RESOURCES AND THE USE THEY ARE PUT TO. THEREFORE, INFORMATISATION RATHER THAN INDUSTRIALISATION MAY BE A BETTER REFLECTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATION.�??

IN ITS NINTH MALAYSIA PLAN 2005-2010, THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IN ORDER TO REALISE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF ICT, THE PRESERVATION OF E-SOVEREIGNTY AND TRUST WITHIN E-COMMERCE MUST BE INTENSIFIED. SECURE COMMUNICATIONS, TRUSTED IDENTITY, AND TRUSTED SYSTEMS, AMONG OTHERS, ARE MADE THE PRE-REQUISITE TO ENSURE CONFIDENTIALITY, INTEGRITY AND AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION. THROUGH A SERIES OF LEGISLATION AND POLICIES, THE GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO PROVIDE LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT FITS FOR THIS PURPOSE.

AT THIS JUNCTURE, IT IS CRUCIAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PDP LAW PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO CREATE A TRUSTED E-COMMERCE SYSTEM AND ICT-ENABLED COMMUNICATIONS. WITHOUT CLEAR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS ON THE COLLECTION, PROCESSING, STORING AND EXPLOITATION OF PERSONAL DATA, INDIVIDUALS WILL BE RELUCTANT IN CARRYING OUT WITH THEIR TRANSACTIONS, BOTH AUTOMATED AND MANUALLY-ENABLED. THEREFORE THE BIGGEST TAKS OF PDP LAW IS TO CLEAR THIS BARRIER, AS THE PDP LAW SEEKS TO ENUMERATE CERTAIN LEGAL PRINCIPLES CAPABLE OF SAFEGUAREDING THE PERSONAL DATA OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESSES. AND IN ORDER TO ENFORCE SUCH PRINCIPLES, CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITIES ARE FRAMED SO THAT DATA SUBJECTS WILL BE REST ASSURED THAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE WELL PROTECTED.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THIS TAKES ME TO ANOTHER MILESTONE THIS LAW SEEKS TO ACHIEVE. WITH PDP LAW, WE ARE STRONGLY INTENDING TO TRANSFORM OURSELVES INTO A BETTER AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, A MORE OPEN AND CARING SOCIETY AND ALSO A MORE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSES.

THE OBLIGATIONS TO PROTECT PERSONAL DATA WILL CREATE A MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSES BECAUSE THE LAW TASKS US TO UNDERSTAND AND ADMIT THAT PERSONALLY-IDENTIFIED OR IDENTIFIABLE DATA CANNOT BE HANDLED THE SAME WAY LIKE OTHER TYPES OF COMMERCIAL DATA ASSETS. THEY DO NOT EXCLUSIVELY BELONG TO THE BUSINESSES AS THE LATTER ARE ONLY REGARDED AS �??DATA USERS�??. THE REAL OWNERS ARE STILL THE PEOPLE WHOSE DATA ARE BEING HELD OR USED, OR IN OTHER WORDS THE �??DATA SUBJECTS.�?? THE PDP LAW SEEKS TO CLEARLY HIGHLIGHT THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF DATA USERS AND DATA SUBJECTS. THOSE OBLIGATIONS CAN BE FURTHER SEEN AS AN IMPLEMENTATION OF CORPORATE DUTIES TOWARDS INDIVIDUALS RANGING FROM THE SHAREHOLDERS TO THE EMPLOYEES, FROM BUSINESS PARTNERS TO OUTSOURCED PROVIDERS, AND FROM EXISTING CUSTOMERS TO THE POTENTIAL ONES. WITH THIS VIEW, PDP LAW WOULD THUS HELP PROMOTE THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE SOCIAL CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITIES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE WAY GOVERNMENT MANAGES PERSONAL DATA OF ITS INDIVIDUALS IS NOW AN IMPORTANT PARAMETER FOR BENCHMARKING THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, JUST AS PDP LAW INDICATES A BETTER LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION; AND A YARDSTICK FOR THE LEVEL OF E-GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT WORLDWIDE. CLEARLY WE DO NOT HAVE A LUXURY TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HAVING AND NOT HAVING THE PDP LAW. IN ORDER TO PROGRESS, WE NEED TO APPRECIATE THE NEED TO RESPECT INDIVIDUALS RIGHT TO THEIR DATA PRIVACY, THUS IT WILL CREATE A BETTER LEVEL OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE TOWARDS OUR GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS.

FINALLY, WHEN MORE ACCOUNTABLE BUSINESS AND BETTER GOVERNANCE IS ACHIEVED, THE RIGHTS OF A LARGER MALAYSIAN PUBLIC BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS AND CONSUMERS WOULD ULTIMATELY BE MORE PROTECTED. AND THE NATIONAL COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS CAN BE RIGHTLY CONSTRUCTED TOWARDS TRANSFORMING MALAYSIA INTO THE NEW ERA OF GLOBALISATION AND INFORMATISATION. NOW I HARDLY NEED TO SUMMARISE THAT PDP LAW WOULD ULTIMATELY BENEFIT EVERYBODY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE A BENEFICIAL AND FRUITFUL DISCUSSION DURING THIS ONE-DAY CONFERENCE. I AM SURE IT WILL LEAD TO THE DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION, TAKEN FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES OF ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS. THE PUBLIC, TOO, WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS EXPOSURE SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PDP LAW FOR THEIR BENEFIT AS WELL AS FOR THE COUNTRY IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO COME. LET THIS MOMENT BE A STARTING POINT FOR ALL OF US TOWARDS A MORE CARING GOVERNMENT, MORE PROTECTED PUBLIC, MORE FRUITFUL COMMERCE AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST MORE FLOURISHING MALAYSIA. AND SO, IT IS WITH THOSE WORDS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT I TAKE PLEASURE IN DECLARING OPEN THIS NATIONAL CONFEFENCE OF PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION LAW.

THANK YOU.

Opening Remarks By Datuk Ng Seing Liong, President of REHDA / Global Event

2009-03-19

Description:
OPENING REMARKS BY DATUK NG SEING LIONG, PJN, JP

PRESIDENT OF REHDA

AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON

LANDSLIDE RISK MITIGATION and HILLSLOPE RE-ENGINEERING PLANNING

19TH MARCH 2009 (PWTC, KL)

Yang Berbahagia Dato\' Ahmad bin Haji Kabit

Secretary General, Ministry of Housing and Local Government Malaysia

Yang Berbahagia Prof Dr Mahbob Salim

Executive Director, Institute Sultan Iskandar, University Technology Malaysia

Honoured Guests, Distinguished Speakers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A Very Good Morning to all,

First of all I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Institute Sultan Iskandar (ISI), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia for inviting me to deliver a few words this morning. It is my privilege and honour to be invited to this National Seminar On Landslide Risk Mitigation And Hillslope Re-Engineering Planning.

YBhg Dato\'

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since the 1990\\\'s until December 2008 being the most recent, numerous series of landslides had occurred in our country resulting in fatalities and significant damages, even to the extent of taking the lives of our loved ones. Whilst we share the grief and sufferings caused by these tragic incidents, there is a need to determine and assess the cause of these unfortunate events and formulate action plans to address and mitigate the risk to avoid the re occurrence of these events.

I am very pleased that ISI has taken the initiative to organize this timely seminar as off late much has been said and debated about hillside development. This is indeed an opportune moment for the professionals and experts to discuss, debate and find possible solutions for sustainable hillside development. Safe hill site development is not the purview of one entity but instead, authorities and the nation, both public and private; including planners, engineers, developers, should make a concerted effort in coming out with a comprehensive and harmonized regulatory framework for a feasible solution to hill slope management and development.

YBhg Dato\'

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The knowledge in landslide controlled and management has advanced greatly over the last thirty years and Hong Kong is one such country where a relatively successful system of hillside development has been implemented. Although more than 60% of land in Hong Kong is on natural terrain, they have proven that hillside areas can be safely developed and sustained. With the availability of technology and our professional experts there is no reason why Malaysia is not able to do the same. We can adopt and emulate the successful model system practised in Hong Kong, for instance establishing a dedicated agency similar to the functions of the Hong Kong Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) to deal with and look into the various aspects of hillside development for the whole country. This agency should be allocated with sufficient resources to undertake research on hillside development and slope safety and also empowered to issue and enforce guidelines and standards, approve development on hillside and monitor slopes.

Another weakness related to hill slope development is the lack of master planning and transparency in the land development and building process. More often than not, hillside developments are approved and undertaken on a discreet basis without sufficient input on future projects that may take place in the same area. The lack of proper master planning for developments without taking into consideration the impact of developments in the surrounding areas could result in such mishap of landslides. Planners therefore should establish and take into consideration the over all Master Plan and coordinate the infrastructure facilities of the whole area so there will be integration and coordination with neighboring development. With proper coordination and access to information on hillside developments in surrounding areas, development of projects can be carried out more efficiently.

YBhg Dato\'

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Landslide investigation reports revealed that landslides were also due to design errors, inadequate safety factors and lack of maintenance. However, these issues could be well addressed with more stringent rules enforced along with regular and periodic maintenance of slopes diligently carried out by the relevant authorities. There are reputable professional bodies in Malaysia which can be appointed to study the design, monitor the construction and maintenance to make hillside development viable and more acceptable from the perspective of safety and environment. As for existing hillside developments, a pragmatic approach must be identified or enhanced to ensure the safety via systematic assessment, proper testing and maintenance programmes.

As I mentioned earlier, a holistic involvement of all relevant parties in adhering to sustainable hillside development must be adopted to ensure safety while any recurrence of future landslides should be minimized and mitigated. Local Authorities have a duty to enforce the required level of safety by way of regulations, Planners will have to come out with a proper master planning and Developers shall assure adequate safety for development on hillside and commission only competent Engineers to work on their projects due to the highly complex technical nature of hill site development. I wish to emphasize that hillside development can be safely carried out in Malaysia provided all the regulatory framework is in place as practiced in Hong Kong or Singapore. Having said that I would also like to urge that the freezing of approved developments on Class 3 land across the country be lifted immediately to enable developers carry on with their projects as such ban may cause more harm than good to the said land and its surrounding areas.

YBhg Dato\',

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As this seminar brings together professionals and experts in the subject of discussion, it is hoped that the seminar will provide an opportunity for us all to gather as much knowledge and enhance our understanding to facilitate future hillside development. Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate ISI for organising this seminar and to all participants I wish you a fruitful and productive session, may all your queries in the pertinent area be well addressed. All the best!

Official Keynote Address by : Yang Berhormat Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin , Deputy Minister ,Ministry of Housing and Local Government at National Conference on Landslide Risk Mitigation & Hillislope Re-Engineering Planning 19 March 2009 PWTC Kuala Lumpur / Global Event

2009-03-19

Description:
Yang Berhormat Dato\' Hamzah Zainuddin

Deputy Minister II

Ministry of Housing and Local Government

Conference on Landslide Risk Mitigation and HILLSLOPE Re-Engineering Planning

Venue : Putra World Centre

Date : 19 March 2009

Time : 8.50 a.m

Bismillahirahmanirrahim,

Assalammualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabaratuh

Professor Dr. Mahbob Salim

Executive Director , Institute Sultan Iskandar

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Amin Alias

Head of Business Technology & Innovation Division, Institute Sultan Iskandar

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Ng Seing Liong, PJN, JP

President, Real Estate and Housing Developers\\\' Association Malaysia

Y.Bhg. Dato\' Sri Prof. Ir. Dr. Judin Bin Abdul Karim

Director General, Public Works Department, Malaysia

Assalamualaikum w.b.t,

and a very good morning to everyone

Ladies and Gentleman

1. Landslides have caused large numbers of casualties and huge economic losses in the hilly and mountainous areas of the world. In tropical countries, annual rainfall could peak as high as 4500 milimetre with high temperatures all-through-out the year. Collectively, these conditions stimulate intense weathering to the soil and rock profile. At certain ground location, these effects could extend 100 m in depth.

2. With these set of climate and geological conditions, combined with other causative factors, landslide is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the tropical region. From 1993 to 2008, there were 16 major landslides reported in Malaysia, involving both cut and natural slopes with a total lost of more than 100 lives. Of these the landslides within the Ampang/Hulu Kelang areas received the most publicity. Being located in highly populated areas, the impacts of these tragedies are tremendous to human and properties.

3. Social and economic losses due to landslides can be reduced by means of effective engineering, planning and management which involved landslide hazard assessment, slope assessment for landslide prediction, mitigation measures and warning systems. The recurrences of these incidences imply that actions being undertaken by the respective authorities were less effective. Studies conducted after the tragedies have indicated that landslides were caused mainly by failures of the retaining walls and other combination of factors like lack of maintenance and monitoring, less coordination during construction stage and design problems.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

4. It is pointless for the purpose of planning landslide mitigation measures to classify the work as a function of the phenomena or of more important phenomena, renouncing any attempt to prescribe all the causes, all the conditions which, at different times, contribute to the occurrence of landslides. Therefore, the methods of slope stabilization in rocks or in earth must be further examined.

5. In Malaysia, there are several government agencies with different disciplines involved that can provide inputs to reduce landslide hazard and their consequences, namely the Department of Mineral and Geosciences (DMG), Center of Remote Sensing (MACRES), Public Works Department (PWD) and the Department of Town and Country Planning which had provided certain guidelines to the planning and development on slopes.

6. Today, there are issues pertaining to the reliability or accuracy of the existing Slope Assessment in predicting the landslide occurrences in our country. Accuracy or reliability in predicting future landslide is a crucial part of any slope assessment. Inaccurate or wrong prediction will expose lives and economies to danger or hazard if a slope or an area that should be classified as a High Hazard Level is mispredicted as Low Hazard Level. On the other hand, if a slope or an area that should be regarded as a Low Hazard Level is mispredicted as High Hazard Level, it will be exposed to losses in terms of funds spent to \\\'stabilize\\\' the stable slope, or funds spent on any effort to reduce the risks of landslides that are unlikely to occur.

Ladies and Gentleman

7. The questions arise; will the new hillside development guideline be effective?, does Malaysia need to wait or learn from incidences after they have happened?, or to adapt guidelines to suit the local situation. In general, the following issues need to be deliberated. For instance:-

· Government\\\'s Enforcement on Regulation and Legislation. Based on the various landslide incidents, it is crucial for the respective authorities to implement periodic monitoring and immediate corrective action taken to prevent future incidents. The various landslide incidents should be taken as a serious wake up call and would require a positive and immediate response. A recent guideline issued by the Federal, Town and Country Planning Department which says that all development of slopes exceeding 25 degrees should be strictly prohibited. But these strictures are largely ignored because there aren\\\'t laws but mere guidelines.

· The Developer\\\'s Responsibility. The housing developer in this country has an important role and responsibility to ensure that developments are not only sustainable but in compliance with planning/engineering guidelines and operating procedures.

The major concern to the public is on developer\\\'s continuous property development in environmentally sensitive areas.

· The Issues of Safety Screening and Monitoring. Slope management and inventory should be established to monitor the risk of each slope in the area. This is to ensure a stringent and continuous slope monitoring by the respective authorities.

· New Compliance and Regulatory Requirements. The technical authority need to inspect the slopes and decide if it is dangerous. Once identified action should be taken immediately to rectify the situation.

· Public Education. The public especially owners of land in hillslope should be aware of the hazards posed by development on such areas. Effective remedial and corrective measures must be put in place before any attempts were made to develop the site. Local authorities on the other hand must be equipped with up to date data on land condition/suitability, ground movement and so on, and be transparent so as to educate the public on the safety aspects, and take precautionary measures to improve the hill-slope development which if unchecked can endanger their own lives.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Preventive measures for hillside development should not be limited to housing/residential development but also to road and highway development and other infrastructure works. These developments should also apply detailed and stringent soil investigation methods to meet the requirement of the authorities. The incidents at Bukit Antarabangsa and two other earlier incidents in the Klang Valley should be taken as signs that landslides near hill slope development do present a clear hazardous and dangerous signs that should be seriously and effectively addressed.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Our government has a huge responsibility to ensure the safety of its citizens because landslides are a threat to the society. A leading agency or department must be created to ensure that safety from landslides is maintained. To achieve this objective a comprehensive Slope Safety System has to be formulated, operated and managed by a team comprising specialist engineers and scientists to execute the task and to achieve effective reduction in risks caused by landslides.

The principal initiatives are:

· Slope Safety Standards to ensure more effective slope protection and stabilization measures. Here, geotechnical research and the study of natural terrain instability are fundamental in risk assessment and hazard mapping.

· The crucial need to continue examining the design and supervision of construction of new slopes. By doing so, the high standards of slope protection and stabilization methods are maintained.

· Good landuse planning is necessary to avoid landslide prone areas. Further, the possible man-made alternatives to the landscape, such as road cuttings and construction of heavy buildings should be minimized.

· Rectifying or upgrading high priority substandard slopes and the safety screening of old slopes and scheduled maintenance of man-made slopes are desirable good practices.

· As good citizenry, owner must also take responsibility for slope safety. This \\\'command and control\\\' method sets regulations on slope for public safety. Safety screening of private land slopes may be enforced to owners to investigate and carry out necessary upgrading works to slopes. Here, the enabling legislation need to be first, put in place.

· One of the important government interventions regarding slope safety is promoting public education, public information services and community advisory services. With these information and awareness, the dangers of landslides can be minimized effectively.

· The aesthetics of engineered slopes is also important, the objective is to make the slopes look as natural as possible and to blend them with the surroundings. There is a crucial need for planning and technical guidelines on good practices in landscape treatments and bioengineering for slope works. The greening of newly formed slopes is necessary for both functional and aesthetics and minimizing the use of hard surfacing in slope works.

I understand that a policy and institutional framework for landslide Mitigation and Risk Reduction has been initiated. Efforts toward instititutionalizing and legislating systems for Landslide Mitigation and Risk Management are time consuming process. We hope the current initiatives will go towards the transformation of the National Slope Master Plan that will be the blueprint in guiding the long term solution for Landslide Mitigation and Risk Reduction Management.

With this note, I have the pleasure to declare open the one-day conference on

Landslide Risk Mitigation and Hillslope Re-Engineering.

Thank you.

Intelligence Led CCTV Surveillance Operations / Global Event

2008-05-28

Description:

The intelligence led CCTV surveillance operations course is a one day course that
focuses on the integration of intelligence and surveillance skills to fully exploit an
organisations surveillance capacity. This one day course introduces those elements that
contribute to developing professional surveillance judgement. There are a multitude of
inputs which effect operator performance both internal to the individual and external.
This course focuses on those inputs which management may influence or control and
which when exploited effectively improve individual and organisational outputs.
Developed jointly by Dr Craig Donald and Jeff Corkill on the basis of needs identified in
CCTV operations internationally, the course has a number of features that will assist
managers to achieve optimal surveillance operator performance whilst more effectively
integrating the CCTV surveillance function into the wider security intelligence capability

23rd July 2008, Impiana KLCC & SPA Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Contact Mr. Saravana at 016-2420864 for more details.