Digital empowerment: Perak govt targets B40, disabled, and jobless for AI training

IPOH: The state government will focus on providing digital courses including artificial intelligence (AI) training for the B40, disabled and jobless in order to create a digital savvy generation.

Perak Communications, Multimedia and NGO community chairman Mohd Azlan Helmi said this target group would be among the first batch to gain digital knowledge through such special courses.

He said this programme will focus on the community living around the National Information Dissemination (Nadi) centres.

“This is in line with the government’s desire to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas, as well as ensure that no one is left behind in the tide of technological progress.

“We do not want Perakians to be left behind in this digital age, and by creating digital development without creating any awareness or courses, we are worried that the community will not be able to grasp the digitalisation atmosphere fully,” he told reporters after launching the MCMC Microsoft AI Teach programme at the Multimedia and Innovation Hub at Mydin Mall here Saturday (Aug 24).

Mohd Azlan said besides the targeted group, the state government would probably look at providing such courses across the board.

The courses are organised by Digital Perak Corporation Holdings (Digital Perak), which is the ICT arm of the state government, with collaboration with several strategic partners.

On the first phase course that was held at the Hub, he said a total of 208 people participated in the course.

He said with such a good response, several other similar courses would be planned.

“We will also see how we are able to assist others across the board who are interested in gaining such digital skills in time to come.

“Courses like this are really important, and I hope more of such training are held, to ensure the community gains assistance, which then is able to help them develop their businesses and so forth,” he added.

Mohd Azlan said he is worried that the community in Perak is possibly very comfortable with the conventional way of doing things.

“Thus I am urging them to transform towards digitisation, as this field is growing and developing day by day.

“This Microsoft AI course is an initiative carefully designed to bring Malaysians forward in the era of rapidly developing technology, which is aims to empower the community with skills in the field of AI

“AI is not only important as a technological tool, but also as a catalyst for more inclusive and sustainable economic development.

“Perak is one of the earliest states to implement this programme with several strategic partners to ensure this programme can be implemented effectively in achieving its goals,” he added.

Mohd Azlan added that the main objective of the programme is to ensure that the benefits of AI technology can be felt by all segments of society, including those living in rural areas.

Besides that Mohd Azlan said there would be additional 19 Nadi centres that will be up this year.

“I am made aware that 11 of such centres are already completed, and the remaining eight will be ready in a month or two.

“We already have 71 existing Nadi centres statewide. With the new ones coming up in Perak, there will be a total of 90 centres,” he added.