Mexican minister suggests mobile app to fight crime

THOUSAND OAKS (California): Mexico’s interior minister suggested Wednesday that a mobile software app could help crack down on the country’s crippling drug-related crime.

Speaking at a conference hosted by search giant Google in California,  Alejandro Poire said the new government was determined to get a grip on the  violence wracking Mexico, and technology could help.

 

“Ninety-five million people in Mexico own a cell phone today. These are a  powerful tools that can help us get information, obtain it from images,” he  said at the conference in Thousand Oaks, northwest of Los Angeles. 

 

“What if we could develop a system that uses this technology and actually  went not just to the people in the call center, but to citizen watchdogs that  would allow us and help us to monitor” criminals, he asked.

 

He continued: “We could probably produce a simple, practical, very basic  software that would allow us to increase our capabilities of reporting crime to  police.”    Poire, Mexico’s fifth interior minister since 2006, noted that the  country’s murder rate last year was 22 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants,  nearly twice as high as only eight years ago.

 

Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon named Poire as interior chief last  November, after the previous post holder Francisco Blake died in a helicopter  crash. -- AP

Najib clicks with young voters

ONE TEAM: Prime minister sees young people as partners in nation-building

ON Tuesday, Datuk Seri Najib Razak assured young voters of a better quality of life under the Barisan Nasional government. They were also promised that the BN government would meet their aspirations for advancement.

"Tomorrow will be much better than today. We have proved that we can deliver," said the prime minister.

His assurance came without a second thought when a netizen, who went by the name Dr Kamal, asked during the NSTLive online chat what guarantee the prime minister could give to young voters if they voted BN in the coming general election.

Najib interacted with 1,500 people during the session that helped him reach out to the masses, especially young people who are more at home with information and communications technology.

The question was pertinent since youth are becoming the dominant political force in the country. It is estimated that young people will account for 80 per cent, or almost three million, of new voters. Their proportion of votes is expected to go up to 49 per cent in the next general election, from 41 per cent in 2008.

The prime minister has linked up with the young on Facebook and Twitter, besides appearing at youth activities and local radio talk shows. He has the largest following in the country on Facebook and Twitter, and his branding on radio, television and mainstream newspapers has been positive.

Najib's sincerity in reaching out also saw the birth of the Najib Razak Club, or NRC11, a year ago. Activities include gotong-royong. In February, young members of the club had a teh tarik session with comedian and actor Afdlin Shauki. Other personalities and politicians have been featured as speakers in the club's nation-building programmes. The latest of these was D. Ravindran, director of the National Key Results Areas on Corruption, on May 23.

The engagement with young people sends the message that Najib regards them as partners and future leaders in nation-building.

Rarely has a head of government reached out like this. It has enhanced the programmes of BN Youth and the component party youth wings.

The recent BN Youth Job Fair was a hit. Its “Orang Muda Pilih BN” programme in several states elicited a big response, firing up young supporters to campaign for the coalition. The latest in Jitra, Kedah, this month attracted more than 10,000 young men and women; as many attended the one held in Ipoh last month.

Across the divide, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also maintains an active presence in social media. He is also aware of Malaysia’s low median age and is pushing hard to capture the affections of the under-30 voting bloc.

He is joined by information technology-savvy opposition leaders and supporters, who, along with sympathetic non-governmental organisations, are aggressively fishing for young voters via the Internet.

BN has poured a lot of resources to overcome the opposition advantage in winning the acceptance and support of the youth.

Najib has been making inroads into this crucial voter segment, which swung in favour of candidates representing Pas, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat in the 2008 general election.

The ruling coalition is playing up not only its long history of political and economic stability but also Najib’s transformational reform agenda.

The opposition pact, by contrast, continues to peddle vague promises, which even their own leaders are uncertain can all be fulfilled.

But the governing parties need to look beyond racial politics. Young people generally have more liberal views of democracy than their elders.

The young, who were mostly fence-sitters in 2008, see the opposition as aligning itself with groups that claim to be fighting for  universal concerns such as corruption and good governance that they profess to be committed to.

Those from the middle class also do not have the same interests as the poor, for whose benefit broad policies are in place.

Young voters, especially the first-timers, are becoming increasingly politicised. BN leaders recognise how this can often make them vulnerable to the opposition’s blandishments.

To compete, Malaysia needs 'cradle to career' plan

SUPPORT ECOSYSTEM: It's all about connecting organisations dealing with science and technology

Engineers working on the engine of CTRM’s unmanned aerial vehicle. Malaysia leads the region in advanced materials, with key players in aerospace and dome construction such as CTRM.

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I REMEMBER when I was lecturing at Universiti Teknologi MARA (then ITM) in the late 1980s, one of the ways to ensure I was a few steps ahead of my students was to subscribe to and read articles regarding my subject-matter not accessible to them.

 Another was to talk with the industry people on a regular basis. It makes me wonder how lecturers nowadays manage to remain "teachers" when students now have the same or even greater access to information and are able to communicate with people from all over the world.

 Globalisation of travel, media, science, teaching and increasingly accessible channels of communication have democratised transmission of science, technology and knowledge around the world.

 But these things have also placed increased pressure on developing markets, such as Malaysia, that -- ready or not -- are becoming more deeply exposed to technologies and technology policies implemented both by advanced and other developing economies.

 The best option -- indeed, the only responsible option -- is to work towards developing a supportive ecosystem in Malaysia capable of responding to the increasingly global nature of science, technology and innovation.

 This means both streamlining and connecting the myriad organisations dealing with science and technology issues in the country and ensuring that Malaysia secures a seat at the table with other technologically advanced countries.

 In our own backyard we have seen the rise of technology giants such as South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Increasingly China is moving away from low-cost manufacturing towards world-class research and development.

 Of the 1.22 million patents filed by the country in 2010, the intellectual property office granted 815,000 patents, a 40 per cent increase from the year before. Even closer to home, Singapore ranks second on Insead's Global Innovation Index.

 There is no reason why Malaysia can't aspire to these heights. The country is already a world-leader in niche areas such as palm oil research supported by the work of organisations such as the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and the Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute.

On the private side, we are even leading the region in non-traditional sectors such as advanced materials, with key players in aerospace and dome construction CTRM and DK Composite. But more is needed to ensure research is channelled into commercial uses.

 To compete effectively, Malaysia must provide companies with afull value chain of support structures to incubate and grow global champions in fields of science, technology and innovation. Our own ministers of education and higher education have drawn the nation's attention to the increased need for students educated in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

 The country will need an estimated 1.3 million science and technology workers by 2020; it has an estimated 400,000 today. The Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology  recently hosted members of the Prime Minister's Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council, including leading American educator Dr Nancy Zimpher, chancellor of the State University of New York, for talks on improving our own education system for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

 Dr Zimpher called for coherent "cradle to career" national education systems that better connect primary, secondary and tertiary education. There is much more to be done to foster a world-leading science and technology ecosystem. We must recognise the national importance of our public R&D institutes such as the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia  and the Malaysian Institute Of Microelectronic Systems.

 On the flip side, we must underscore the importance of providing the right conditions to foster private sector R&D if we are to achieve 10th Malaysia Plan targets of R&D investment of one per cent of Gross Domestic Product by 2015.

 Might endeavours to provide a platform for consensus building. With more than 100 members including key government ministries, agencies, government-linked companies as well as both local and foreign private sector companies, universities and research institutes, Might is uniquely positioned to provide a forum for this kind of dialogue. This is arguably one of the most valuable contributions we can make to improving the local landscape for science and technology development.I do not envy my former colleagues at UiTM who are today faced with the growing challenge posed by easy access to information and the highly interactive online world of know-how and know-who that may either help or even humble the unwary.

Paying tribute to my favourite rock group, Queen, my humble advice is, "if you can't beat them, join them" and learn to "play the game", quickly.

The handphone debate

MOBILES IN SCHOOLS: Teachers and parents voice their views on new proposal

Students using mobile phones and information technology gadgets outside their school. Starting from next year students will be allowed to bring mobile phones and IT gadgets to school after the rules and regulations under the Education Act 1996 are amended. NSTP/Pic by Nurul Syazana Rose Razman

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 KUALA LUMPUR: PARENTS and teachers are divided over the Education Ministry's proposal to allow mobile phones in school, starting next year. 

The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) claimed yesterday that all 180,000 members were against the policy.

However, parent-teacher associations contacted by the New Straits Times said the move was acceptable, provided strict regulations regarding usage were in place to ensure students did not abuse the privilege.

NUTP president Hashim Adnan said the union's members were worried teachers would become the "inevitable victims" of the proposal.

"If the government wants to allow handphones in schools, they must ensure that teachers will not be given the responsibility to safeguard their students' phones.

"On average, there are more than 2,000 pupils in each public school and if all of them bring a handphone to school, who will ensure that none of them go missing?"

Hashim added that NUTP members were against the government's proposal because it would not be conducive for all students.

"Not everyone can afford a handphone. Some students may feel insecure or depressed if they couldn't afford an expensive phone like their peers. How will that affect our students' self-confidence?"

On Monday, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong had announced the plans to amend regulations in the Education Act 1996.

He said the provision to allow students to bring handphones to schools would require strict guidelines.

National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) president Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ali Hasan said handphones would distract students in classrooms.

"While the teachers are teaching, the students will be busy with their handphones. The sound of ringtones and text message notifications will distract them from their lessons."

Ali was also concerned that the crime rate in schools would increase because of handphone thefts and bullying.

"If everyone brought their handphone to school, criminals would start targeting the schools instead. I suggest the government allow only certain type of handphones to be brought to school such as the basic ones with incoming call and text messaging features."

Parent Action Group chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, however, said allowing students to bring handphones to school could enhance communication between students and parents.

"This is important, especially for high school students who have extra-curricular activities. They can alert their parents on their whereabouts through the handphone."

Noor Azimah, however, cautioned that strict regulations must be imposed and agreed that handphones should only be used during certain hours in school.

She suggested lockers be installed in schools so that students could keep their textbooks and valuables safe.

 Leverage on disruptive technologies

With a commitment to disruptive innovation, the provision of public goods such as education may be far less costly and more accessible in the future

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JEFFREY D. Sachs, Professor of Economics and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University in the United States, is both a prolific writer and creative and erudite public intellectual.

In a recent commentary  in Project Syndicate,  Sachs has written an important piece titled Service Without Tears (www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/sachs184/English).

In this article,  Sachs points out that “a productivity revolution in service-sector delivery is now possible”.

Drawing on the example of how information technology has revolutionised the classroom,  he points out that “information technology is revolutionising the classroom and driving down the costs of producing first-rate educational materials. Many universities are putting their classes online for free, so that anyone in the world can learn Physics, Math or Economics from world-class faculty.”

I can attest to the way information technology is having an effect on my  work. All of my lectures are recorded and videoed, and students who otherwise might not have had the chance to access my lectures now have them. Readings and other resources are put online,  increasing accessibility.

Sachs makes the argument that the “same breakthroughs now possible in education can occur in healthcare”.

While  he points out the problems when key costs in healthcare are effectively controlled by associations and business interests which “act like monopolists, driving up costs”, the fact is that improvements in information technology and our capacity to communicate can significantly aid in addressing some of the critical issues we face in healthcare.

Sachs says: “Far too many people end up in the emergency room and the hospital because they lacked the advice and help to keep their conditions under control without institutional care, or even to prevent their disorders entirely.”

Companies that are practising disruptive innovation are  helping individuals to monitor their own conditions and connect them through  Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to experts who can advise them when necessary.

The use of community health workers to reach out to patients saves the costs of visiting a doctor and reintegrating people into community both through the use of ICT and the cheaper mechanism of increasing community outreach is making the cost of healthcare decline.

In a previous column, I discussed the importance of disruptive innovation (Disrupting The Status Quo, Learning Curve, Oct 30, 2011).  Sachs’ article reminds us that disruptive innovation is not just an idea.

It is a reality and governments and other health providers will increasingly take an interest in disruptively innovative ways to make healthcare more accessible and less costly just as is occurring in the educational sector.

Due to a combination of  creative delivery practices, advances in information technology and a commitment to disruptive innovation, the provision of public goods such as healthcare and education may in the future be far less costly and more accessible to all.

Many of our arguments in regard to social inclusion and  justice are in large measure debates  on the amount of finance given to public goods.  Through disruptive innovation, the cost of providing accessible and decent healthcare and education can be lowered.

The fundamental commitment of a community and nation to the principles of sustainability and inclusiveness can be met through accelerating multiple forms of innovation and creative uses of technology.

Such innovation can enable Malaysia to reach the goal of economic transformation in healthcare and education.

Leveraging advantage from low-cost structures and accelerating capacities in information technology and other disruptive technologies when combined with new ways of working may lead to a renewed confidence in Malaysia’s ability to advance the public good.

Such measures may allow  the country to overcome the tendency that increased competitive pressures have on accentuating inequality and social exclusion.

Malaysia can improve and expand on its already very good record of delivery of public goods, such as education and healthcare, through the use of disruptive innovation, technological applications and innovative ways of thinking about service provision.

These  approaches can help to make real the holistic aims of growth, inclusiveness and sustainability as outlined in the New Economic Model (NEM).

Sachs concluded his article and discussion of healthcare provision  by pointing out that “smart healthcare is therefore holistic”.

I want to expand on Sach’s argument and suggest that the smart provision of public goods and the transformational effort to base an economy on inclusiveness, sustainability and growth as outlined in   NEM is also holistic and, ultimately, disruptive.

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28 December 2011 | last updated at 05:16PM

M'sia needs to produce own cyber security software

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia needs to produce its own cyber information security software as depending on foreign software may risk information leaks and intelligence breaches, said a software expert here today.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Computer Science and Information Technology Faculty dean Prof Dr Ramlan Mahmod said infiltration could happen covertly as currently there was a lack of understanding on source code logic streams used by foreign software.

"At the moment, there is no software capable of checking the source code of software to ensure the software used is confirmed safe.     

"For the realisation of this information technology, the country needs to acquire 'technical knowhow' in information security and expertise in various fields such as computer science, mathematics and engineering," he told Bernama.

He said to acquire the expertise, the nation needed to carry out the foundation work such as training more experts in information technology and by bringing in more external technologies into the country.

Dr Ramlan said information leaks could happen in two situations, that is when the data was in transmission and hacking of existing data in storage.

"To prevent hackers from attacking data in transmission or unauthorised access to data storage, the information could be encrypted or hidden.

"This is the basis of information and software development important to ensure our cyber defence," he said.

He said the government needed to play a major role to set up a strong system of cyber defence as it needed financial commitment, expertise, legislation and continuous monitoring.

"Cyber security is the same as national security involving many operational aspects such as prevention, defence, detecting, intelligence and attack.

"It also needs sophiscated technical knowledge in information security and continuous upgrading of capability considering hackers are also improving their attacks," he said. -- BERNAMA

Digital papers an instant hit

MORE TO COME: 1,500 sign up for NST, BH and Metro

Readers downloading the New Straits Times e-paper on their iPad (right) and smartphone yesterday. The e-paper can also be viewed on a computer. Pic by Nurul Syazana Rose Razman

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   KUALA LUMPUR: WITHIN 12 hours of their launch, the new digital newspapers by New Straits Times Press received overwhelming response yesterday.

As at 5pm, more than 1,500 people had subscribed to the digital editions of the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro.

NSTP information technology director Dr Rodaina Ibrahim said the subscriptions looked promising, adding that she was confident that the digital newspapers would reach their target soon.

"With better features to our digital newspapers, we believe they can increase our readerships in the near future.

"As we are looking at convenience and efficiency, one of the features, which allows readers to view pages while waiting for others to download, will allow us to meet our target," she said.

Rodaina said subscribers would not only be able to enjoy replicas of the printed newspapers, they would also receive breaking-news alerts, which are synchronised with the online versions of the papers.

The digital newspapers are available from 6am every day.

Among other features offered by the digital newspapers are video galleries, an audio reader function, the ability to share articles via Facebook, Twitter and email, zoom features, bookmarks and advanced search functions.

To enjoy the free trial period of the digital edition of the New Straits Times until June 30, go to the Apple iTunes Store or App Store on the Apple iPhone, iPad or iPod and key in "NST Digital" in the search window in the store front.

Click on the free app button under the NST Digital icon to launch the digital edition.

Finally, follow the three registration steps and log in with your username and password to enjoy the digital version of the New Straits Times.