Make AI core part of strategy, Kit Siang tells leaders in organisations

Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang says Malaysia has become a follower rather than a leader in the Internet Age. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: To succeed in the race for Artificial Intelligence (AI), leaders in organisations must make AI a core part of their strategy and develop a learning agility culture.

They have to continuously invest in this transformative technology for long term-term success, sometimes without immediate returns, according to DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

“Universities are ideal test-beds for the development of the AI strategy and culture,” the Iskandar Puteri MP said at the close of the 5th International Biotechnology Competition and Exhibition 2019 organised by the Chemical Bioprocess Engineering Student Society at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Johor Baru yesterday.

“Recently, a study on AI in Malaysia concluded that Malaysia is not ready yet for AI and that to succeed in the AI race, Malaysia needs to substantially improve its readiness,” said Lim, adding that he had always been fascinated by the role of AI in human development.

“Are Malaysians ready for AI? This is the challenge which must be answered by the new generation of Malaysians, in particular those in the universities.”

Lim said that more than two decades ago, the Multimedia Super Corridor was launched to transform Malaysia into a knowledge economy and to place the country as a leader of the cyber era.

“But we failed in this regard and we have become a follower instead of a leader or even competitor in the Digital Age, and South Korea is a good example,” he said.

Lim congratulated UTM on its recent improved international university rankings.

He noted that it was third among 11 Malaysian universities ranked in the Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging Economies University Rankings 2019, with Universiti Malaya (UM) ranked No. 18, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) No. 60 and UTM No. 86.

In the latest inaugural THE University Impact Rankings 2019, UTM was third among eight Malaysian universities listed, after Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and UM.

Lim reminded the students that undergraduate years are times when youths should be able to express their idealism, “especially when we are living in exciting times”. -FMT