“INTEGRATING DATA TO FUTURE-PROOF TOMORROW” PDC TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES SDN BHD

SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

“INTEGRATING DATA TO FUTURE-PROOF TOMORROW”

PDC TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES SDN BHD

 

Good afternoon. I am glad to attend PDC Telecommunication Services’ relaunching of its website with the Mission Statement & Tagline “ Integrating Data to Future-Proof Tomorrow”.

We aspire to make Penang a preferred destination for tourism, investment and quality living. To achieve this, Penang has to be a smart city that is digitally connected. 
Penang is a world-class hub to numerous international and domestic investments, especially in the electronics and medical devices sector. With a world-class infrastructure, excellent professional services, quality local suppliers and good governance, focused on STEM education to build more human talents, there will be more stimulus for new investments and reinvestments in Penang.

BBC in its yesterday news quoted that “Penang is Asia’s Silicon Valleys” by mentioning that Penang is punching well above its weight in the tech world through hardware manufacturing. Equating Penang to the way Silicon Valley developed, local engineers from big tech manufacturers are leaving to strike out on their own, creating a growing ecosystem for tech start-ups.

A critical component for the continued and sustained success of Penang is embracing Industry 4.0 including Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Fintech, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing and Internet of Things (IOT). We also seek convergence in the public, manufacturing and services sector to enable us to partake in the 4th Industrial Revolution.

The state government has invested RM 75million to establish Penang as a centre of excellence for science and technology including projects such as RM10.8 million for expansion of Penang Digital Library (II), the only 24hr library in Malaysia, to be ready by end 2018. This is on top of the RM20 million spent for Penang Science Cluster, RM28 million on Penang Tech Dome, RM 2 million for coding class, RM6 million on Karpal Singh Learning Centre teaching STEM but also the RM6 million German Dual Vocational Training (GDVT) – the first German learning whilst working curriculum.

There is a need to adapt to Industry 4.0 by mastering STEM subjects of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. The Penang State Government is investing RM 6 million over 3 years to bring free coding classes to 120,000 primary and secondary school students.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an important component, especially machine learning in our data driven world. Machine learning is the branch of AI that is most relevant because computers sift through data to recognize patterns and make predictions without being explicitly programmed do so.

Recently, Penang has also launched the implementation of an innovative dengue dynamic surveillance system, relying on AI and machine learning to provide real-time prediction and data analytics on exact geo-locations and timing of the next dengue outbreak. Preventive action is then taken against these predicted dengue outbreak sites under the CAT or Crush Aedes Totally initiative. Using AI predictive analytics, this CAT initiative hopes to reduce the number of dengue deaths in Penang.

PDC Telecommunication Services is working on the Penang Digital Transformation Plan which will ready by 2018. It will be a roadmap that will bring Penang to a new social-economic level, transforming industries with technology adoption. Embracing this plan will bring forth an abundance of opportunities to Penang, thus making it more competitive in the international market.

The Digital Transformation Plan will incorporate changes associated with the application of digital technology in all aspects of human society. The transformation stage will involve digital usages essentially enabled in new types of innovations and creativity in a particular domain, rather than merely enhancing and supporting traditional methods.
Apart from that, I am proud that PDC Telecommunication Services has made great progress on a state-wide fibre-optics-based Next Generation Network to further enhance the information and communications infrastructure here. Penang will see upgrades in telecommunications infrastructure with maximum coverage, carrier-grade service and Big Data bandwidth that all world-class investors expect of an International City.

With the efforts made today, we will see a Penang ready for the telecommunication challenges brought forth in the future. A future-proof Penang and to fulfil PDC Telecommunication Services’ Vision of “ Making Penang A Smart City With A Digitally Connected Community”.

Thank you.