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Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Proton drives the country to a higher level, with Geely China, Automotive High Tech

 

Proton's e.Mas 7 electric vehicles at the company's plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia. -- PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

IT’S an exciting time to be in Tanjung Malim, a town in Perak, which is actually nearer to Kuala Lumpur than Ipoh as it is only 70 km north of Kuala Lumpur and 120 km south of Ipoh.

Once a sleepy town, which most motorists using the North-South Expressway would just pass by without entering, Tanjung Malim has become too important to ignore.

It is now known as the Proton City, with commercial and residential activities, spread over 16 km and the home of the multi-million ringgit Proton manufacturing plant.

The national car, under the then Proton Holdings Bhd, was once near collapse as its losses ran into billions of ringgit over the years preceding 2016 due to high operating costs, declining market share and a lack of research and development. 

But the change began when DRB-Hicom Bhd and China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group took over Proton in 2017.

They transformed the struggling national car project into a profitable entity on a growth trajectory, driven by advanced technology and improved models with increased market share.

Now, DRB-Hicom and Geely are taking Tanjung Malim to a new level with the creation of the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) as its global strategic hub – the first outside China.

Both have signed a master collaboration agreement that sets forth the principles, framework and mutual commitment for AHTV.

Total investment from Proton, Geely, DRB-Hicom and the future foreign direct investors is estimated at RM32bil over 10 years to develop AHTV into Malaysia’s right-hand-drive export hub, producing vehicles not only for Proton and other Geely brands but also other original equipment manufacturers.

The AHTV has been classified as a “high impact major project” under the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026 to 2030) with the aim of making Proton City an automotive hub for the Asean region.

The focus will not just be on production but also in the manufacturing of high technology components and parts for New Energy Vehicles as well as NxGV or Next Generation Vehicles.

Malaysians can expect many ground breaking events to take place in the coming years.

Last December, Proton’s new electric vehicle (EV) was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with the first locally made Proton e.MAS 7 expected to be rolled out from the new Proton EV factory by November this year and to be followed by the more affordable e.MAS 5.

The ground breaking of the new RM82mil EV factory, which sits on a 2.25 ha site within the Proton complex, has a first phase initial capacity of 20,000 units per annum.

The concept of the AHTV has been created to propel Malaysia’s competitiveness in the automotive industry to improve competitiveness of local vendors through collaboration or joint-venture with overseas vendors.

The creation of the AHTV is in line with the National Automotive Policy 2020 and National Industry Master Plan 2030, National Energy Transition Roadmap and Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint.

Proton now plans to fully relocate from Shah Alam to Tanjung Malim by 2027.

DRB-Hicom group managing director Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar Syed Ali Rethza Albar said: “The total Proton staff is around 8,000 with 4,000 each in Shah Alam and Tanjung Malim respectively but by 2027, Proton will relocate entirely to Tanjung Malim, save for some management staff.”

The expectation that over 8,000 workers will be based in Tanjung Malim along with their families will surely reshape the town.

The relocation will reduce operational costs, optimise efficiency and help to increase production capacity at the Tanjong Malim plant for greater economic scale.

This plant is not only a production site – it’s also seen as a strategic investment to advance green technology in the local automotive sector, creating over 3,000 jobs in Tanjung Malim.

As of 2024, about 20 vendors, both local and foreign, are operating there to support Proton’s manufacturing.

Proton is moving in the right partnership with Geely via the AHTV as the former wants to leverage on the advancement of the automotive industry in China through Geely with its high tech features, new energy vehicles and global premium brands under their wing such as Zeekr, Lynk and Co, Polestar and Smart, amongst others.

It’s a big deal that Geely has chosen Tanjung Malim as its Global Strategic Hub as the spillover impact would be tremendous, including developing public amenities for a growing population, gas pipeline for vendors, 5G connectivity for advanced manufacturers, new connectivity and possibly a railway hub for logistic support and a new North-South Expressway interchange to Tanjung Malim and, an expansion of Federal Route 1.

For the community in Tanjung Malim, a private English medium primary school has opened since March 2024 for the benefit of the expatriates and their families working there as well as a golf range and a bowling centre.

A private hospital, international school, technical training institute and hotel are in the development plans.

AHTV also wants to target top global vendors to set-up facilities in AHTV and to attract original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) there as a manufacturing hub for their own export markets.

All these are being planned and expected to be executed over the next six years.

From 2030 onwards, AHTV hopes to enhance research and development capabilities in Malaysia as well as to set up a national automotive testing centre, a vehicle testing centre and possibly an automotive museum.

Once fully developed, AHTV could potentially produce up to 500,000 vehicles annually, with 50% targeted for export. Component production is also projected to support one million vehicles by 2035.

For the long term, the development is projected to generate between 160,000 and 370,000 job opportunities, which will include the production of microchips and core component production in batteries, autonomous technologies and automotive artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced connectivity.

AHTV will shape the production of the national car to a new milestone as it was established to create an automotive system in Malaysia. It was not merely to produce the Proton cars but aims of a larger plan.

An ecosystem to manufacture a car is important, without which it will be difficult to assemble foreign cars in Malaysia.

At the same time, the multiplier effects on the economy must improve to benefit Malaysians at different levels.

But there has to be some reality checks too.

After many years of having a solid ecosystem, Malaysia’s total automotive exports is still low at 3% whereas Thailand is at 50% and Indonesia at 37%.

Yet, Malaysia is the biggest passenger car market in Asean and has the highest car ownership rate among Asean countries with 490 units per 1,000 population.

This is why DRB-Hicom, Proton and Geely want to build the AHTV; taking advantage of economies of scale from Proton and Geely’s influence in bringing global top-tier vendors to set-up shop there.

The intention is to create a vibrant hub for other OEMs to take advantage of the AHTV’s ecosystem which can naturally start with Geely producing their branded vehicles in Tanjung Malim.

Geely brands include Volvo, Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Geometry C, Radar, Emgrand, Smart, Farizon, London Electric Vehicle Company, Polestar and Lotus, among others.

In short, AHTV aims to increase its automobile production volume, export volume, upgrade local vendor capabilities in new technology areas and competitiveness while creating Malaysia as a new energy vehicle and NxGV hub for the benefit of Malaysia and the region.

As we celebrate Malaysia Day, we can certainly take pride that Proton, the national car, is in healthy shape with the support of its Chinese partner and is now poised to take the industry to a higher level.

By Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, a National Journalism Laureate and Bernama chairman. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.


Sunday, September 14, 2025

‘Make AI an ally’

 

AS universities grapple with regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) among students, a niche service sector has already emerged.

Third parties are now advertising services on e-commerce platforms to help students bypass AI detectors in their submissions.

These services, marketed as “humanising” AI-generated assignments, involve making machine-produced material sound more like it was written by an actual person. This is done by refining text, replacing overly formal phrasing with more conversational language, or weaving in personal stories and anecdotes.

Stressing the need for varsities to safeguard academic integrity, educators cautioned that this is essential to ensure that students genuinely develop the competencies and skills their qualifications claim to represent.

This, they argued, requires rethinking student assessment models, including moving away from one-off major exams, integrating continuous assessment of the learning process, and introducing formal declarations of AI use - similar to acknowledging collaboration with peers.

“When learning activities are designed to consider not just the final outcome, but also the process, the responses, and how students engage with the material, those elements can serve as meaningful forms of learning assessment,” University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) development communication Prof Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria told StarEdu.

A former UPOU chancellor, Prof Melinda also served as president of the Asian Association of Open Universities, championing massive open online courses and open educational resources across the region.

“It is no longer just about teaching because knowledge today comes from many different sources.

“Our role is to determine the right level and type of assessment, so we can truly certify that an individual has gained the necessary competencies and skills,” she said.

Rooted in culture

Prof JungProf JungEducation Research Institute visiting research fellow Prof Insung Jung at Seoul National University, South Korea, said students’ reliance on “humanised” AI services is closely tied to societal pressures.

“It is a universal issue, especially in societies that place a strong emphasis on achievements and admission into top universities. This pressure tends to be even stronger in Asian cultures,” she said.

The pressure, said Prof Jung - who has over three decades of experience in open, distance and digital education - is compounded by the fact that some institutions discourage AI use, pushing students to conceal it.

“Students often aim to produce quality work quickly, but then conceal their use of AI. This is partly because some education institutions discourage AI use.

“As a result, students resort to using ‘humanised’ AI responses to avoid detection,” she explained.

In contrast, she noted that Japan’s education and employment practices create a different dynamic.

“In Japan, grades matter less because companies don’t hire based on transcripts. The minimum grade requirement is only 1.0 out of 4.5.

“Whereas in Korea, if you don’t have, for example, 3.0 out of 4.5, you don’t even get to apply for jobs at companies,” said Prof Jung, who spent 19 years teaching in Tokyo, Japan.

Agreeing, University of South Africa Emeritus Prof Paul Prinsloo noted that societal norms often influence how students perceive integrity.

“Another factor is when corruption is deeply embedded in a national culture and people routinely get away with it - without naming any specific countries or regions.

“In such environments, students may grow up believing it is acceptable to pay off authorities or buy their way through life.

“This creates a distorted sense of right and wrong, as dishonesty feels justified - everyone is doing it, or they believe they will not be caught,” Prof Prinsloo, whose expertise is in open and distance e-learning, AI in education and the ethics of student data use, explained.

Focus on learning

The real issue, Prof Prinsloo highlighted, also lies in universities’ emphasis on outcomes rather than the learning journey.

“We did not prepare graduates properly. We focused too much on giving them the right answer instead of teaching them how to think and to find the answer,” he admitted, adding that the focus is now slowly shifting to the learning process.

A way forward is to integrate continuous assessment into the learning process, Prof Olaf Zawacki-Richter of University of Oldenburg, Germany, suggested.

Outsourcing assignments through student help services is relatively uncommon In Germany due to the country’s academic system, said the varsity’s Faculty of Education and Social Sciences dean.

“Students are not graded frequently as they only receive one graded project per module.

“Learning is project-based and collaborative, so lecturers can observe the students’ process step by step.

“This makes it transparent whether the students actually did the work themselves,” he said.

Even before the rise of AI, some institutions had been experimenting with alternative ways of engaging students in assessment.

Citing an example, Prof Prinsloo said some varsities require learners to evaluate their own work based on a clearly spelt-out guideline.

“Students grade their own assignments according to criteria, and then we compared their self-assessment with ours,” he explained.

Although not foolproof, the approach encouraged accountability by prompting students to reflect honestly on their performance and take ownership of their learning.

“It becomes part of their responsibility to own up and say ‘this is how well I think I did’,” he added.

Be transparent

Prof XiaoProf XiaoIt is human nature to look for shortcuts, making it crucial for universities to establish mechanisms that ensure responsible use of AI, said Emeritus Prof Junhong Xiao from Open University of Shantou, China.

“Whether we like it or not, AI will be used in education.

“We, as educators, ensure that students learn to use AI responsibly,” he said.

Rather than punishing students for turning to AI, Prof Prinsloo advocated embracing it as part of the learning process.

“I want to know how they use AI. What was their process? Did they check the answer? How did they validate the answers? We should be interested in the process,” he said, emphasising that students should be encouraged to use such tools responsibly.

He also underscored the importance of transparency in learning and collaboration, cautioning that punishment of AI use could drive students to discover new ways to cheat.

“One university even has a declaration that students fill in to say, ‘I worked with a colleague or AI in this assignment.’

“We almost always punish them for working together with other students or with technology when we should be open and encourage them,” he opined.

Likewise, Prof Melinda shared that her university has already introduced an AI policy at the institutional level.

Under the policy, students are required to declare and document how they engaged with AI, such as the questions they asked, the responses they received, and how they evaluated those responses.

“We ask ‘How did you use AI in your submission’, for instance?

“They have to track the actions they have taken and document it,” Prof Melinda explained.

She, however, acknowledged the challenges of enforcement, as declarations may not always be complete or fully honest.

“Of course, it’s not a guarantee that they will declare everything, especially if they submitted something that’s completely AI-generated. We still have to reflect and guard against that,” she added.

Note: Prof Melinda, Prof Jung, Prof Xiao, Prof Prinsloo and Prof Zawacki-Richter were speakers at the Open University Malaysia “Visionary Leadership: Charting the Futures of Digital Education” public lecture on Aug 6.

Thumbs up: Mustapha (ninth from left) with Prof Ahmad Izanee (seventh from right) with the speakers and guests at the public lectures series. - AZMAN GHANI/The StarThumbs up: Mustapha (ninth from left) with Prof Ahmad Izanee (seventh from right) with the speakers and guests at the public lectures series. - AZMAN GHANI/The Star

AI in academia

THE Higher Education Ministry is committed to preparing students for a future shaped by AI and digital transformation, says its Deputy Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.

“We are improving how AI is taught and used across our universities.

“We are also building campus environments that support flexible learning, including better Internet access, modern learning spaces, and stronger support for academic staff,” he said at the Open University Malaysia (OUM) “Visionary Leadership: Charting the Futures of Digital Education” public lecture on Aug 6.

Held at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the free public lecture series was organised in conjunction with the varsity’s 25th anniversary.

Also present were higher education director-general Prof Dr Azlinda Azman, and OUM president and vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Izanee Awang.

Subsequently, in a parliamentary reply on Aug 26, Mustapha said the ministry has outlined several measures to address the use of AI in academic writing, namely:

Developing guidelines for AI use in higher education.

Monitoring and regulating practices at the institutional level.

Revising assessment and evaluation methods.

Strengthening teaching and learning approaches that support higher-order thinking skills.

Providing training and professional development.

Upholding a firm commitment to academic integrity.

Ensuring all new and existing courses will include AI-related elements starting from 2025.

Mainstreaming the integration of AI into curricula through an “embedded AI” approach across study programmes, according to the needs of each discipline, such as engineering, technology, social sciences, and service-related fields.

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Source link https://www.thestar.com.my/news/education/2025/09/14/make-ai-an-ally

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Friday, September 12, 2025

PENANG SENIOR GOLFERS GOLF TOURNAMENT

 

PENANG SENIOR GOLFERS GOLF TOURNAMENT

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOUbGCWleP4/


Date & Time: September 14, 2025, with a tee-off at 1:30 PM.

  • Location: Penang Golf Club.
  • Organizers: Penang Senior Golfers Club (Penang SGC), supported by the Penang State Government and Penang Golf Club.
  • Registration & Fees: RM130.00 for PGC members and RM230.00 for non-PGC members. Contact details for registration are provided on the poster.
Discover Penang Golf Club, the island's sole championship 18-hole golf course, boasting rolling fairways and manicured greens. The course featuring Bermuda ...

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Thursday, September 11, 2025

Defence diplomacy the best option for Malaysia

Photo: Xinhua via AP


 CHINA’S Victory Parade on Sept 3 (pic) was more than pageantry; it was a warning shot about the future of war. With cyber, space and information warfare now centre stage, Malaysia must turn to its greatest strength – defence diplomacy.

Our ability to build trust, balance powers and shape regional security will determine whether South-east Asia remains stable amid intensifying rivalry.


The parade held in Beijing was more than a spectacle of power. It was a statement, a declaration that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is no longer simply modernising; it is also redefining warfare itself.


For Malaysia and Asean, the lesson is unmistakable – the battlefield of tomorrow will extend far beyond land, sea and air. It will be fought in cyberspace, outer space and the invisible realm of information.


The response must not be passivity but strategy and, above all, defence diplomacy.


For the first time, China showcased three new branches. The Information Support Force, the Cyberspace Force, and the Aerospace Force. These are not symbolic formations.

They signal the elevation of data and algorithms, satellites and electronic warfare to the same status as tanks, ships and aircraft.


China’s message is clear; victory will belong to those who dominate information, not just territory. It is a pivot from platform-centric power to information-centric warfare, an approach that mirrors Nato and US doctrines of multi-domain operations.


Military parades are theatre, but in Beijing theatre is strategy. To its people, China portrays: “We are secure and advanced.” To Washington, it signals: “We can fight across every domain.”


To its neighbours, the message is unmistakable: “We are no longer only a regional power; we are a global power.”


Malaysia can draw at least three key lessons from this signal. First, cyber and space resilience must become national priorities. Our financial systems, communications and power grids remain exposed to sophisticated cyberattacks.


Satellites and networks are potential first targets in any conflict. The upcoming Second Phase of Defence White Paper (2026 – 2030) must treat cyber and space security as essential pillars of national defence.


Second, strategic balancing has become a non-negotiable requirement.

Malaysia cannot afford to be ensnared in a great power rivalry, but we also cannot afford to remain silent. Defence diplomacy has emerged as a fundamental strategy. Engaging China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia and others is the instrument that protects our sovereignty and Asean’s neutrality.


Third, innovation in defence is an urgent imperative. The National Defence Industry Policy (DIPN) and Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP) must prioritise dual-use technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, cybersecurity solutions and satellite applications. Without innovation, resilience will remain out of reach.


The lesson from Beijing is not that Malaysia should embark on an arms race. It is that we must strengthen defence diplomacy as the first line of security. Defence diplomacy is about building trust with partners, engaging competitors with clarity, and using dialogue to prevent miscalculation.


It means engaging in joint exercises, officer exchanges, technology collaboration and transparent communication.


For our country, it also means positioning ourselves as a bridge, a country trusted enough to convene conversations between rivals, but firm enough to defend our national interests.


China’s parade revealed a military ready to fight across every domain. But Malaysia’s strength does not lie in matching missile for missile. Our strength lies in building coalitions, shaping norms and leading through diplomacy.


The real contest of this century is not only about who parades the largest arsenal but who builds the most resilient, cooperative and stable security architecture. That is the contest where Malaysia, through defence diplomacy, must lead.


RAEISS ILMY RAMLY Dengkil, Selangor


Source link


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