CYBERJAYA: Asia Innovates 2019 anjuran Kumpulan Industri-Kerajaan Malaysia Bagi Teknologi Tinggi (MIGHT) dan Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), United Kingdom (UK) menampilkan 14 inovasi penyelidik terbaik yang dipilih daripada tujuh negara untuk dibentangkan di hadapan pelabur dan institusi kewangan dari Malaysia dan Asia. 

Presiden yang juga Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MIGHT, Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman, berkata inovasi itu bakal diketengahkan kepada syarikat pelaburan yang berminat serta institusi kewangan untuk tujuan pembiayaan dan fasilitasi bagi membolehkan ia mampu dikomersialkan di pasaran tempatan dan global. 

Katanya, program tiga hari yang berlangsung pada 15 Oktober itu bakal memberi peluang kepada lebih 150 penyelidik Asia untuk terbabit dalam bidang keusahawanan dan menimba lebih banyak ilmu pengetahuan dalam bidang berpotensi. 

“Asia Innovates 2019 bukan saja program yang dapat memberi peluang kepada mereka untuk meningkatkan rangkaian di peringkat antarabangsa tetapi juga untuk mengukuhkan keyakinan penyelidik ini berjaya dalam bidang keusahawanan. 

“Disamping itu, program ini menjadi platform strategik untuk mengukuh dan mengeratkan ekosistem inovasi dan keusahawanan negara dan serantau. 

“Pembabitan institusi kewangan, agensi kerajaan dan pihak swasta adalah penting bagi memastikan pelaburan daripada pihak kerajaan dalam membangunkan inovasi di kalangan penyelidik dapat dikomersilkan seterusnya dipasarkan di persada antarabangsa,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan. 

Asia Innovates 2019 turut disokong rakan strategik seperti CIMB Islamic, Pusat Kreativiti dan Inovasi Global Malaysia (MaGIC), Yayasan Usahawan Baharu (MyNEF), Beta-Foundation dan Persatuan Pengurus Inovasi dan Teknologi (ITMA). 

Program tahunan yang menjadikan Malaysia sebagai tuan rumah kali ini turut disertai rakan strategik antarabangsa dari China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Filipina dan Vietnam. 

Antara aktiviti menarik yang bakal dianjurkan sepanjang program berkenaan ialah perbincangan panel yang turut dihadiri oleh pakar tempatan dan juga dari UK, bengkel, pertandingan pitching (peringkat akhir) dan sambutan ulang tahun kelima program Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF). 

Mohd Yusoff berkata, LIF menjadi program di bawah Newton-Ungku Omar Fund adalah program dua hala antara Malaysia dan UK dalam bidang sains dan teknologi. 

Katanya, program Newton-Ungku Omar Fund memberi penekanan kepada tiga teras utama iaitu pembangunan modal insan, penyelidikan & pembangunan (R&D) dan aspek translasi. 

“Program lima tahun ini membuka banyak peluang kepada penyelidik dan syarikat tempatan berkolaborasi dengan entiti di UK. Hubungan kerjasama ini mampu menyumbang kepada pembangunan ekonomi dan sosial negara. 

“Malaysia adalah di antara 17 negara membangun yang menyertai skim Newton,” katanya. 

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians can produce cars, skyscrapers, planes and high-tech machinery, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

All that is needed is determination and the required skills and expertise, the Prime Minister said.

Dr Mahathir said Malaysia’s decision to embark on a national car projects was for the people to have greater expertise in the automotive industry.

“Our economy used to only rely on rubber, palm oil and mining. That was the foundation of our economy and we became poor.ADVERTISING

“We first learn how to assemble vehicle parts and then in time, we know how to manufacture parts needed.

“Through this, we not only overcome our incompetence in this field, but take several steps forward towards becoming an industrious nation that not only produces car parts, but also parts of other things.

“This was our desire when introducing the national car project,” said Dr Mahathir at a dialogue session with industry leaders at the TVET Conference 2019 here yesterday.

On the aerospace industry, the Prime Minister called on players to seize all opportunities, from assembling planes or manufacturing components and parts for planes.

He said composite parts for Airbus and Boeing aircraft were already made here, and was confident that with a better skilled workforce, local firms could offer to do more.

The Prime Minister noted that at the first Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in 1991, not a single local equipment was displayed.

“However in the last LIMA, half of the items showcased were made by our companies.

“This shows we have advanced and that we, like other global players, can do it too,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said Malaysia would not have to bring in foreigners if the people could take on the jobs.

“The question is whether we are willing to do the work. If we are, foreigners don’t have to come.

“If Malaysians take on all the jobs in the country, their income will be spent in the country and in turn, this will help the economy grow.

“But now we see millions of foreign workers in our country, and they send their money back home and when they leave, they take their knowledge with them.

“We must be willing to take on construction jobs but the reality is that we don’t find any of our people in this sector,” Dr Mahathir said.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/07/10/high-tech-within-our-grasp/#bxJ0kPKy6Yv6LZC1.99

Laporan yang akan menjadi landmark kemajuan Melaka. Idea menarik..
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BANDAR HILIR 3 Mei – Penerbitan laporan Melaka Sustainability Outlook Diagnostic : Pathway to Urban Sustainability menjadi panduan kepada kerajaan negeri merangka dasar Melaka 2035.

Ketua Menteri, Adly Zahari berkata, menerusi laporan tersebut ia menjadi kayu pengukur kepada pembangunan dirancang dan dibawa kerajaan negeri bagi memastikan kemajuan serta kepesatan dicapai mampu bertahan pada masa hadapan.

Menurutnya, beberapa segmen penting dimuatkan dalam laporan itu melibatkan pembangunan bandar masa akan datang.

“Bagaimana untuk memajukan negeri ini dan memastikan ia kekal maju dari semasa ke semasa? Semua ini dicatatkan menerusi laporan ini.

“Selain itu terdapat beberapa kajian turut disertakan iaitu pencapaian ekonomi Melaka yang dibandingkan kerajaan seperti kawasan perbandaran, persekitaran semulajadi dan sumber-sumber lain,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang media selepas merasmikan majlis Perlancaran Melaka Sustainability Outlook Diagnostic Report di Holiday Inn di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MIGHT, Datuk Dr. Mhd Yusoff Sulaiman, Ketua Pengarah Eksekutif PTHM, Chandru Suparmanian, Penganalisis Pembangunan Urban Bank Dunia, Lincoln L. Lewis dan Exco Wanita, Kebajikan dan Pembangunan Luar Bandar, Ginnie Lim Siew Lin.

Jelas Adly, laporan ini juga menjadi salah satu dokumen penting yang memberi nilai tambah kepada pelaburan di negeri ini pada masa akan datang.

“Mana-mana syarikat yang ingin melabur di sini harus punya satu rujukan untuk membuat apa-apa pelaburan di sini dan saya jangka laporan ini sangat tepat dijadikan satu dokumen penting bagi mereka,” katanya.

Ujar Adly, laporan diagnostik telah disusun kepada laporan tinjuan dan enam laporan sokongan merangkumi bidang penting seperti memperkukuh kejayaan ekonomi Melaka, mengintegrasikan rancangan alam sekitar, meningkatkan perumahan dan perkhidmatan, peralihan modal mobiliti Melaka dan demontrasi kelestraian fiskal.

Laporan tersebut telah diterbitkan hasil kerjasama Kumpulan Industri-Kerajaan Malaysia untuk Teknologi Hijau (MIGHT) dengan kerjasama Perbadanan Teknologi Hijau Melaka (PTHM), Kemudahan Alam Sekitar Antarabangsa (GEF), Bank Dunia dan Pertubuhan Pembangunan Perindustrian Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (UNIDO).

Sumber: MelakaKini

MELAKA, May 2 (Bernama) — Based on the report, “Melaka Sustainability Outlook Diagnostic: Pathway to Urban Sustainability”, the revenue of the state government will experience a decline without new sources of income, said Chief Minister Adly Zahari.

He said new sources of income are badly needed such as in the ports industry and industrial sector to ensure that the issue of income declining and state expenditure involving operations increasing annually does not occur.

He also said Melaka needs to undertake more aggressive development in various existing sectors, namely manufacturing and tourism, alongside new ones such as ports to enhance the state’s revenue in the future.

“Meanwhile, one of the methods to increase the state’s revenue is through more aggressive development as over the past few years in Melaka, progress in the industrial sector for example, has not matched that of housing,” Adly told reporters after launching the report here today.

Also present was Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman and Melaka Green Technology Corporation (PHTM) chief executive officer S. Chandru and World Bank urban development analyst, Lincoln L. Lewis.

The report took about two and a half years to compile by MIGHT, PTHM, Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

When tabling the Budget 2019 in November last year, the Melaka state government projected revenue of RM384.29 million, an increase of 2.76 per cent compared to RM373.96 million in 2018.

Adly said the report would become the guideline for the state government to prepare the State Structure Plan Melaka 2035.

At the same time, he said the report is important as it is a document that adds value to Melaka towards the efforts at attracting more investments in the future.

— BERNAMA

MELAKA, 2 May 2019 – The Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), together with Melaka Green Technology Corporation, Global Environment Facility (GEF), World Bank, and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) organized the publication launch of the Melaka Sustainability Outlook Diagnostic: Pathway to Urban Sustainability. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pillar 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Being one of most urbanized countries in Asia, Malaysia has been a center of the global “urban migration” in the past decades. Today 75% Malaysian are living in urban areas and over 90% of national economic activity is conducted in cities. Rapid urbanization has created tremendous opportunities for Malaysian cities; but also put enormous pressure on urban infrastructure and services. Climate change further threaten the cities’ capacity to relieve the pressure. Datuk Yusoff mentioned that to tackle the challenges, the Malaysian government had demonstrated continued commitments to sustainable urban development. The eleventh Malaysian plan, the national urbanization policy and the state and local urban planning policies have laid out a policy framework for Malaysia’s sustainable urbanization.
As one of a famous World Heritage City, Melaka attracts more than 16 million tourists yearly and the numbers are growing. Apart from that, 41% of Melaka’s economic output is from Manufacturing.

Melaka produced 4.32 million tonne CO2 in 2014 and increased to 4.45 million tone C02 in 2015. 63% was contributed from building and industry sector meanwhile another 27% from transportation sector.
In order to cope with challenges and opportunities, Melaka has made many great developments toward building a sustainable, green city. Efforts namely on energy efficiency, Materai Hijau Melaka – green rating building tool certification and efforts to increase renewable energy generation and solar roof-top will be prioritise.
Through innovation, technological improvements and adjustments in its urban development practices, Melaka can be a leader in urban sustainability and a role model not only to other cities in Malaysia but Asian cities as well.
Melaka is also enlisted in the 100 Resilient Cities Programme by the Rockefeller Foundation. A resilience unit has been setup at the city level to identify shocks and stresses faced by the city due to local climatic change impact.

Due to our tremendous commitment; Melaka has been proclaimed as the national winner for the One Planet City Challenge or previously known as Earth Hour City Challenge for 2018 organised by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature of WWF.

In order to realize this vision, the Melaka Sustainability Outlook Diagnostic: Pathway to Urban Sustainability able to provide a strategic framework and guidelines for all stakeholders. The objective of report is to diagnose Melaka as competitive cities and the realization of the Melaka’s State Structure Plan 2035, which is the state’s long-term planning document.

This rapid assessment exercise of Melaka’s urban sustainability was the first initiative carried-out by the GEF-6 Sustainable City Development in Malaysia Project which is being implemented by the UNIDO, executed by MIGHT, and supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Melaka’s diagnostic was performed by the World Bank’s Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC), a network which

Melaka actively participates in that has a total of 28 cities in 11 countries. Several consultations for the assessment were carried out with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, State Government of Melaka, Economic Planning Unit of Melaka, and other government agencies.

The diagnostic has been organized into an overview report and six supporting reports covering areas which are integral to Melaka’s future urban sustainability. The supporting reports are titled: (1) Reinforcing Melaka’s Economic Success; (2) Integrating Environmental Plans; (3) Enhancing Housing and Services; (4) Shaping a Compact, Efficient, and Harmonious Urban Form; (5) Shifting Melaka’s Mobility Modal Split; and (6) Demonstrating Fiscal Sustainability.

CYBERJAYA: Malaysia does not yet need a high-speed train service, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

“At the moment, a high-speed train (service) is not really necessary for Malaysia, especially as it is only within Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

“Later on, we might need a high-speed train from Johor Baru to Penang or even to the Thai border. So, we will not build the high-speed train yet,” he told reporters after launching local rail engineering innovation exhibition and technology showcase, or TECHNOMART.

Instead, Dr Mahathir said, the government was more keen on improving the existing railway services.

“We want to improve the quality of service given by our railway system, and that has been done to some extent, by double tracking and electrification.”

The prime minister, however, said Malaysia would go back to the discussion table with Singapore within two years to discuss the High-Speed Rail project.

“We have spoken to Singapore. For the time being, we are not going to build (the high-speed rail). We (have) asked for two years before we begin talks again.

“(For) the HSR at the moment, we are not giving out any contracts but we have had to compensate to Singapore earlier.”

Dr Mahathir was also asked whether Singapore would be agreeable to the idea of the HSR being connected to the Thai border.

“No, I don’t think they will consider. We only think about Kuala Lumpur.”

On the possibility of having an HSR alignment from Johor Baru to Penang, the prime minister said eventually, Malaysia would need such an alignment.

“When the time comes. We are not yet in need of such an alignment. Eventually, we will need it.”

On Sept 5, 2018, Singapore agreed to suspend the construction of the project until the end of May 2020.

As a result of Malaysia’s request for the deferment, it agreed to pay an abortive cost of S$15 million (RM45.6 million) to Singapore by Jan 31 of this year.

Dr Mahathir also said Malaysians had begun to appreciate using the railway system, which had improved over time.

He said some Malaysians would rather use the existing railway services than driving and facing traffic jams.

CYBERJAYA: Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said rail is the transport choice of the future as Malaysians struggle with traffic congestion on a daily basis due to the increase in number of vehicles on the road.

“For a while, trains were not fast or the usual mode of transport for people. But now, cars have increased to the extent that we see jams.

“The obvious answer for a substitute is a rail system, which will be faster as there is no stop-look-go sign, only signal signs,” he said after the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology Consultation 2019 here today.

The prime minister said travelling by rail is a better option than flying, “provided that the distance is not too long”, as there are many checks involved in air travel, especially with concerns over terrorism.

“But it shouldn’t be too short,” he added. “If travelling time is (shortened by) 15 or 20 minutes, then it is not worthwhile.”

In his speech at the event earlier today, he said the socioeconomic spillover from a rail system would be huge as an electric train service brings in commercial benefits.

“Fast trains boost tourism and increase retail establishments and real estate value,” he said.

He added that the value of some residential and commercial properties along prominent railway lines in Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding area had increased by 15 to 25%.

“The trend we are witnessing is not expected to slow down any time soon,” he said, adding that Malaysia’s urbanisation rate is at 75%, 20% higher than the global rate.

“Imagine the kind of mobility ecosystem required for this.”

Mahathir also said the alignment of the KLIA Express line should be improved and straightened in order to further reduce travel time.

“But that will cost more money,” he acknowledged.

During the question-and-answer session after the event, Mahathir said he would also look at the taxation system imposed on local manufacturers.

He was responding to a question on foreign manufacturers who are given tax exemptions while local companies pay the sales and services tax.

Here, he advised Malaysians not to look down on their achievements, including in the manufacturing of cars.

“We buy imported cars, but that money goes out and we become poorer.

“We have the capacity. But our policy seems to encourage imports rather than exports. We are not serving our own country. We need to re-plan taxation so that more products will be produced locally,” he said.

Acknowledging that the government cannot force the people to buy local products, he nonetheless said he hoped Malaysians would be like the Koreans and Japanese who prefer their own products over foreign ones.

On the by-election in Rantau last Saturday, Mahathir said Pakatan Harapan (PH) had failed to win the state seat but added that the government remains the same.

“Obviously there was some loss,” he said. But he added that while government parties do not always receive support during by-elections, “there is no change in the government”.

CYBERJAYA: Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata, kereta api ialah pengangkutan pilihan bagi masa depan Malaysia yang bergelut masalah kesesakan lalu lintas setiap hari disebabkan pertambahan kenderaan di jalan raya.

“Sebelum ini, kereta api tidak laju dan bukan pengangkutan biasa bagi rakyat. Sekarang, kereta sudah bertambah sehingga tahap kita berdepan kesesakan.

“Jawapan jelas sebagai pengganti ialah sistem kereta api yang lebih laju kerana tiada papan tanda henti-lihat-gerak, hanya tanda isyarat,” katanya selepas Pameran dan Pertunjukan Teknologi serta Inovasi Kejuruteraan Rel Tempatan Terbesar di Kumpulan Industri-Kerajaan bagi Teknologi Tinggi Malaysia (MIGHT) di sini, hari ini.

Perdana menteri berkata, kereta api ialah pilihan lebih baik daripada kapal terbang, “jika jarak perjalanan tidak terlalu panjang” kerana ada banyak pemeriksaan membabitkan penerbangan, khasnya kebimbangan terhadap keganasan.

“Tetapi ia tidak patut terlalu pendek. Jika masa perjalanan (dipendekkan) 15 atau 20 minit, maka ia tidak berbaloi.”

Terdahulu, Mahathir dalam ucapannya berkata, limpahan sosial ekonomi daripada sistem kereta api adalah besar kerana perkhidmatan kereta api elektrik membawa manfaat komersial.

“Kereta api laju merangsang pelancongan dan meningkatkan premis runcit dan nilai hartanah.”

Katanya, nilai sesetengah hartanah perumahan dan komersial di sepanjang laluan kereta api utama di Kuala Lumpur dan kawasan sekitar meningkat 15 hingga 25%.

“Trend yang kita lihat tidak dijangka perlahan dalam masa terdekat,” katanya sambil menambah kadar urbanisasi Malaysia ialah 75%, iaitu 20% lebih tinggi daripada kadar global.

“Bayangkan jenis ekosistem mobiliti yang diperlukan untuk ini.”

Mahathir berkata, jajaran KLIA Express perlu ditambah baik dan diluruskan untuk mengurangkan masa perjalanan.

“Tetapi, itu akan menyebabkan kos bertambah.”

Pada sesi soal jawab selepas majlis perasmian, Mahathir berkata, beliau akan mengkaji sistem percukaian yang dilaksanakan ke atas pengeluar tempatan.

Beliau menjawab soalan mengenai pengeluar asing yang dikecualikan cukai, tetapi syarikat tempatan perlu membayar cukai jualan dan perkhidmatan.

Beliau menasihatkan rakyat tidak memandangkan pencapaian di negara sendiri, termasuk dalam sektor pembuatan kenderaan.

“Kita beli kereta import, tetapi duit itu mengalir keluar dan kita menjadi miskin.

“Kita mempunyai kapasiti, tetapi dasar kita nampaknya menggalakkan import berbanding eksport. Tindakan itu tidak memanfaatkan negara kita. Kita perlu mengkaji semula percukaian supaya lebih banyak produk akan dihasilkan secara domestik.”

Walaupun kerajaan tidak boleh memaksa rakyat membeli produk tempatan, tetapi beliau berharap rakyat Malaysia akan bertindak seperti orang Korea atau Jepun yang lebih menggemari produk sendiri berbanding import.

CYBERJAYA – Malaysia perlu menghasilkan ciptaan baharu bagi pengurusan sisa buangan yang boleh menjana kekayaan, kata Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Beliau berkata pada hari ini terdapat banyak ciptaan dalam teknologi yang amat memberi kesan dan membawa banyak manfaat kepada penduduk di seluruh dunia.

Kata Dr Mahathir, sebagai contoh setiap tahun orang membeli telefon bimbit yang baharu dan membuang yang lama, dan ini akhirnya memberi kesan buruk kepada alam sekitar.

“Pengurusan sisa adalah sesuatu yang harus diambil kira oleh teknologi supaya kita dapat mengasingkan sisa dengan berkesan dan menggunakan semula sisa tersebut.

“Oleh itu, bagaimana untuk menangani sisa adalah sesuatu yang perlu dikaji,” kata beliau pada dialog Kumpulan Industri-Kerajaan Malaysia bagi Teknologi Tinggi (MIGHT) 2018, yang dipengerusikan oleh pengerusi MIGHT Tan Sri Dr Ir Ahmad Tajuddin Ali di sini hari ini.

Dialog itu dihadiri oleh 50 pemain industri berteknologi tinggi. Semasa sesi tersebut, Dr Mahathir menjawab beberapa soalan dari para pemain industri antaranya ialah memastikan hasil penyelidikan diubah menjadi perniagaan yang menjana kekayaan.

Perdana Menteri berkata teknologi mikrocip adalah juga sesuatu yang harus diberi tumpuan oleh rakyat Malaysia memandangkan kebanyakan produk teknologi tinggi yang baharu menggunakan mikrocip.

“Ini adalah hala tuju yang negara harus menuju dan mengkaji perkara ini,” kata Dr Mahathir.

Source: Bernama