Chow Kon Yeow: 曹观友

Following e-mail sent to the DAP.

COMPLETE INTERNET SYSTEM REQUIRED FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN
PENANG, MALAYSIA
Internet can be regarded as one of the modern education technologies that
could promote the teaching and learning of new science and mathematics
subjects. Certain science fair projects could be allowed to be published
online as complimentary to the current science fair competition organized
for the schools in Penang, Malaysia. The proper usage of internet for
publication and exhibition purposes could improve the quality of science
fair and scientific research education particularly in the state.

Unfortunately there are some more efforts to be placed on the information
technology and science laboratory facilities for the schools in Penang,
Malaysia when it is stressed that scientific research education is deemed
as one of the major factors that will move the state of Penang towards
advanced states in Malaysia. Even Penang State Education Department
itself does not have its online complete database and some of the links
are even broken or outdated for more than five years. (more…)

Many of us are very reluctant to venture out of our comfort zone. We prefer to do things the same way we always do. But come a day, we will have to respond to the changed and changing environment around us. ICT is like a tsunami rushing at us and there can be no escape. We have to embrace it.

This morning, a new bill, “Electronic Commerce Bill 2006” is tabled for first reading.

This bill seeks to provide for legal recognition of electronic messages used in commercial transactions, the use of the electronic messages to fulfill legal requirements and to enhance as well as to facilitate commercial transactions through the use of electronic means.

However nothing in this Act shall make it mandatory for a person to use, provide or accept any electronic message in any commercial transaction unless the person consents to the using, providing or accepting of the electronic message.

Among others, it provides for the affirmation of the legal effect, validity or enforceability of contracts formed by the use of an electronic message.

I find electronic transaction useful. But I always think ICT is so difficult to use. But like it or not, it is going to be an essential part of our lives. Well, thanks to ICT, I am able to experience new things (like blogging). Have no fear and embrace it.

I have just returned from a Roundtable on Foreign Relations in Federal Countries: The Case of Malaysia at the USM, Penang today.

The roundtable is sponsored by the Forum of Federations, Ottawa Canada and the Centre of International Studies, School of Social Sciences, USM.

The main theme is to explore the role of the constituent or state governments in international affairs constitutionally and politically.

I observed that under our Federalism, due to constitutional provisions and political control, State government has only minimum role not only in foreign affairs but also economic planning and other affairs of the State. While our Constitution provides for Federal legislations and regulatory mechanism, it is felt that the Federal government is found to be less sensitive to State problems.

A participant remarked that with so little power, we might as well do away with the State Government in our Federal system. More and more powers of the State Government have been taken away by Federal government. Opposition party will find it so untenable to convince the people that they are able to rule the State without the support of the Federal government.

State governments today are left with very few rights, in land matters and religious affairs. Even then, there are Federal legislations which grant substantial power to the Federal government, for example The Land Acquisition Act and the standardization of Islamic laws.

This is an important area in our political system and much more attention need to be given to ensure the people rights in State matters are not further eroded.

Another observation worthy of our concern is that Penang failed to emerge as the regional hub of global ICT industry because the State has so little power to do so. Almost everything comes under the purview of the Federal ministries.