THE SIGNING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PENANG STATE GOVERNMENT & AIME SDN BHD

SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
AT THE SIGNING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PENANG STATE GOVERNMENT & AIME SDN BHD 

20 DECEMBER 2017

 

INTRODUCTION OF CAT OR CRUSH AEDES TOTALLY TO APPLY INDUSTRY 4.0 OF PREDICTIVE ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DENGUE CASES AND SAVE LIVES

Penang has always been in the forefront of driving technology adoption with the advent of Industry 4.0, especially in Big Data Analytics (BDA), robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, e-commerce and Internet of Things (IoT).

Today, I am pleased to announce that the state of Penang has 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. Machine learning is the branch of AI that is most relevant because computers sift through data to recognise patterns and make predictions without being explicitly programmed do so. The game-changing surveillance system which the Penang State Government has named CAT or Crush Aedes Totally has been enabled by an advanced model that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI), based on big data analytics and epidemiological research known as AIME (Artificial Intelligence for Medical Epidemiology).

With the signing of this MoU, AIME will collaborate with the Penang State Government and the State Health Department to implement the surveillance and prediction platform. This will enable authorities to effectively target the future outbreak spots and thereby take necessary preventive action including fogging and eliminating aedes mosquito breeding sites.

The State Government of Penang will fully cover the cost for a year at RM 423,333.33. This is a pioneer effort implemented for the first time in Malaysia relying on latest technology to reduce the number of dengue cases and save lives.

This project utilises a globally recognised and award winning scientific model based on AI and data analytics to address the dengue problem in Penang. The home-grown talent in Penang has developed this AI platform in Silicon Valley in the US, and obtained positive outcomes in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and Manila in the Philippines.

With the cumulative dengue cases in Penang today of more than 2500 cases, with 13 recorded deaths, we required an alternative and modern strategy to address this pressing issue. Although the various state government agencies, including Health, Environment, as well as the Local Municipal Councils, have been working hard, the number of dengue cases in Penang stubbornly persists.

It is thus timely for AIME to implement its dengue surveillance and prediction platform to cover the entire state for one year commencing 19 December 2017. Based on the data and predictive modelling, we hope CAT is capable of reducing the number of dengue cases and save lives.

Thank you.