SNAPSHOT | MDEC pulls out of tech event over after party; Amanah man claims trial to fake news

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

6pm

Controversial party

• The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has withdrawn its support for the Malaysia Blockchain Week, following criticism of its after-party for including social media influencer Siew Pui Yi.

  MDEC said in a statement today that it has instructed Malaysia Blockchain Week to remove any association with the government agency, the Digital Ministry, and its minister Gobind Singh Deo.

  MDEC also clarified that it, the Digital Ministry, and the minister were not involved in the planning of the after-party, including the selection of its guests.

  

  Criticism on social media condemned the organisers for Siew’s involvement, pointing to her past involvement in adult content.

  Siew, popularly known as Ms PuiYi, had left the adult content industry in 2022 to become a DJ.

READ MORE: PKR leader admits 'error' on Sanusi's remarks; group slams racist election rhetoric

Court

• Bachok Amanah Youth chief Abdullah Aqili Romeli has pleaded not guilty to making a social media post with false information on fuel prices at the Sepang Sessions Court.

  Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman allowed the 35-year-old man bail of RM7,000 with one surety, after Abdullah requested a reduced amount, citing his salary of approximately RM1,500 as a self-employed car mechanic.

  

  The MCMC’s prosecuting officer, Nur Nazhzilah Hashim, had initially offered bail of RM10,000 with one local surety.

  Fuad set Aug 26 for case mention.

READ MORE: Amanah Youth leader fumes after RM25k MCMC fine over 'fake news'

AI 

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said work is underway to improve his artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, which was taken offline just two days after its launch on July 19. 

  

  According to the New Straits Times, Anwar briefly confirmed the above when asked about the status of the service after attending the launch of AI Malaysia.  

Education 

• Most infrastructure projects needed to accommodate six-year-old pupils entering Year One in 2027 have been completed ahead of schedule, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

  She said the early completion reflected the commitment of all parties to ensure schools were ready before the new academic year began.

  

  “In our preparations, particularly the infrastructure needed to accommodate the intake of six-year-olds, some projects have already been completed well ahead of schedule,” she said at the Education Ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya today.

  The ministry is preparing for a dual Year One intake involving 73,386 registered six-year-olds and an estimated 405,033 seven-year-olds.

  Previously, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh told the Dewan Rakyat that preparations included building 2,596 new classrooms and recruiting 3,150 teachers on a contractual basis, based on registration figures.

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