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NIK ZAFRI BIN ABDUL MAJID,
CONSULTANT/TRAINER
Email: nikzafri@yahoo.com, nikzafri@gmail.com
https://nikzafri.wixsite.com/nikzafri

Kelantanese, Alumni of Sultan Ismail College Kelantan (SICA), IT Competency Cert, Certified Written English Professional US. Has participated in many seminars/conferences (local/ international) in the capacity of trainer/lecturer and participant.

Affiliations :- Network Member of Gerson Lehrman Group, Institute of Quality Malaysia, Auditor ISO 9000 IRCAUK, Auditor OHSMS (SIRIM and STS) /EMS ISO 14000 and Construction Quality Assessment System CONQUAS, CIDB (Now BCA) Singapore),

* Possesses almost 30 years of experience/hands-on in the multi-modern management & technical disciplines (systems & methodologies) such as Knowledge Management (Hi-Impact Management/ICT Solutions), Quality (TQM/ISO), Safety Health Environment, Civil & Building (Construction), Manufacturing, Motivation & Team Building, HR, Marketing/Branding, Business Process Reengineering, Economy/Stock Market, Contracts/Project Management, Finance & Banking, etc. He was employed to international bluechips involving in national/international megaprojects such as Balfour Beatty Construction/Knight Piesold & Partners UK, MMI Insurance Group Australia, Hazama Corporation (Hazamagumi) Japan (with Mitsubishi Corporation, JA Jones US, MMCE and Ho-Hup) and Sunway Construction Berhad (The Sunway Group of Companies). Among major projects undertaken : Pergau Hydro Electric Project, KLCC Petronas Twin Towers, LRT Tunnelling, KLIA, Petronas Refineries Melaka, Putrajaya Government Complex, Sistem Lingkaran Lebuhraya Kajang (SILK), Mex Highway, KLIA1, KLIA2 etc. Once serviced SMPD Management Consultants as Associate Consultant cum Lecturer for Diploma in Management, Institute of Supervisory Management UK/SMPD JV. Currently – Associate/Visiting Consultants/Facilitators, Advisors for leading consulting firms (local and international) including project management. To name a few – Noma SWO Consult, Amiosh Resources, Timur West Consultant Sdn. Bhd., TIJ Consultants Group (Malaysia and Singapore) and many others.

* Ex-Resident Weekly Columnist of Utusan Malaysia (1995-1998) and have produced more than 100 articles related to ISO-9000– Management System and Documentation Models, TQM Strategic Management, Occupational Safety and Health (now OHSAS 18000) and Environmental Management Systems ISO 14000. His write-ups/experience has assisted many students/researchers alike in module developments based on competency or academics and completion of many theses. Once commended by the then Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia for his diligence in promoting and training the civil services (government sector) based on “Total Quality Management and Quality Management System ISO-9000 in Malaysian Civil Service – Paradigm Shift Scalar for Assessment System”

Among Nik Zafri’s clients : Adabi Consumer Industries Sdn. Bhd, (MRP II, Accounts/Credit Control) The HQ of Royal Customs and Excise Malaysia (ISO 9000), Veterinary Services Dept. Negeri Sembilan (ISO 9000), The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (Aspects of Project Management – KLCC construction), Corporate HQ of RHB (Peter Drucker's MBO/KRA), NEC Semiconductor - Klang Selangor (Productivity Management), Prime Minister’s Department Malaysia (ISO 9000), State Secretarial Office Negeri Sembilan (ISO 9000), Hidrological Department KL (ISO 9000), Asahi Kluang Johor(System Audit, Management/Supervisory Development), Tunku Mahmood (2) Primary School Kluang Johor (ISO 9000), Consortium PANZANA (HSSE 3rd Party Audit), Lecturer for Information Technology Training Centre (ITTC) – Authorised Training Center (ATC) – University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) Kluang Branch Johor, Kluang General Hospital Johor (Management/Supervision Development, Office Technology/Administration, ISO 9000 & Construction Management), Kahang Timur Secondary School Johor (ISO 9000), Sultan Abdul Jalil Secondary School Kluang Johor (Islamic Motivation and Team Building), Guocera Tiles Industries Kluang Johor (EMS ISO 14000), MNE Construction (M) Sdn. Bhd. Kota Tinggi Johor (ISO 9000 – Construction), UITM Shah Alam Selangor (Knowledge Management/Knowledge Based Economy /TQM), Telesystem Electronics/Digico Cable(ODM/OEM for Astro – ISO 9000), Sungai Long Industries Sdn. Bhd. (Bina Puri Group) - ISO 9000 Construction), Secura Security Printing Sdn. Bhd,(ISO 9000 – Security Printing) ROTOL AMS Bumi Sdn. Bhd & ROTOL Architectural Services Sdn. Bhd. (ROTOL Group) – ISO 9000 –Architecture, Bond M & E (KL) Sdn. Bhd. (ISO 9000 – Construction/M & E), Skyline Telco (M) Sdn. Bhd. (Knowledge Management),Technochase Sdn. Bhd JB (ISO 9000 – Construction), Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (IKIM – ISO 9000 & Internal Audit Refresher), Shinryo/Steamline Consortium (Petronas/OGP Power Co-Generation Plant Melaka – Construction Management and Safety, Health, Environment), Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Negotiation Skills), Association for Retired Intelligence Operatives of Malaysia (Cyber Security – Arpa/NSFUsenet, Cobit, Till, ISO/IEC ISMS 27000 for Law/Enforcement/Military), T.Yamaichi Corp. (M) Sdn. Bhd. (EMS ISO 14000) LSB Manufacturing Solutions Sdn. Bhd., (Lean Scoreboard (including a full development of System-Software-Application - MSC Malaysia & Six Sigma) PJZ Marine Services Sdn. Bhd., (Safety Management Systems and Internal Audit based on International Marine Organization Standards) UNITAR/UNTEC (Degree in Accountacy – Career Path/Roadmap) Cobrain Holdings Sdn. Bhd.(Managing Construction Safety & Health), Speaker for International Finance & Management Strategy (Closed Conference), Pembinaan Jaya Zira Sdn. Bhd. (ISO 9001:2008-Internal Audit for Construction Industry & Overview of version 2015), Straits Consulting Engineers Sdn. Bhd. (Full Integrated Management System – ISO 9000, OHSAS 18000 (ISO 45000) and EMS ISO 14000 for Civil/Structural/Geotechnical Consulting), Malaysia Management & Science University (MSU – (Managing Business in an Organization), Innoseven Sdn. Bhd. (KVMRT Line 1 MSPR8 – Awareness and Internal Audit (Construction), ISO 9001:2008 and 2015 overview for the Construction Industry), Kemakmuran Sdn. Bhd. (KVMRT Line 1 - Signages/Wayfinding - Project Quality Plan and Construction Method Statement ), Lembaga Tabung Haji - Flood ERP, WNA Consultants - DID/JPS -Flood Risk Assessment and Management Plan - Prelim, Conceptual Design, Interim and Final Report etc., Tunnel Fire Safety - Fire Risk Assessment Report - Design Fire Scenario), Safety, Health and Environmental Management Plans leading construction/property companies/corporations in Malaysia, Timur West Consultant : Business Methodology and System, Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) ISO/IEC 27001:2013 for Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya ISMS/Audit/Risk/ITP Technical Team, MPDT Capital Berhad - ISO 9001: 2015 - Consultancy, Construction, Project Rehabilitation, Desalination (first one in Malaysia to receive certification on trades such as Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination and Project Recovery/Rehabilitation)

* Has appeared for 10 consecutive series in “Good Morning Malaysia RTM TV1’ Corporate Talk Segment discussing on ISO 9000/14000 in various industries. For ICT, his inputs garnered from his expertise have successfully led to development of work-process e-enabling systems in the environments of intranet, portal and interactive web design especially for the construction and manufacturing. Some of the end products have won various competitions of innovativeness, quality, continual-improvements and construction industry award at national level. He has also in advisory capacity – involved in development and moderation of websites, portals and e-profiles for mainly corporate and private sectors, public figures etc. He is also one of the recipients for MOSTE Innovation for RFID use in Electronic Toll Collection in Malaysia.

Note :


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ON THE"LABEL" SECTION BELOW (RIGHT SIDE COLUMN), YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY TAG - TO READ ALL ARTICLES ACCORDING TO ITS CATEGORY (E.G. LABEL : CONSTRUCTION) OR GO TO THE VERY END OF THIS BLOG AND CLICK "Older Posts"


 

Sunday, July 02, 2023

CAN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AID THE POOR? (QUICK ANALYSIS BY NIK ZAFRI)



Someone asked me a few days ago, since I've been promoting Artificial Intelligence and its multifaceted use.

A good question: "How can AI benefit the poor?"

I do not know the intention of the person asking (who is politically motivated and the way he asked in a quite cynical mode or perhaps he is simply curious) but I'm going to answer it anyway. (not for him but for everyone reading this article)

Took me a while to do some research and I can come out with some ways (possibly can be done in the near future in Malaysia - but surprisingly many countries are already using them - at least at the inception stage) that AI can help the poor (where some of them, I am seriously considering using with the help of some "nerdy friends":

a. Identifying poverty-stricken regions -

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to analyze satellite imagery and other data to identify areas where poverty is concentrated. This information can then be used to target interventions and resources to those areas.

b. Providing access to education and healthcare 

AI can be used to develop educational tools and resources that are tailored to the needs of poor communities. It can also be used to improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery, making it more accessible to people living in poverty.

c. Improving agricultural productivity -

AI can be used to develop new agricultural technologies that can help to increase crop yields and improve food security. This can be especially helpful in developing countries where poverty is often linked to food insecurity.

d. Enhancing financial inclusion -  

AI can be used to develop new financial products and services that are accessible to people living in poverty. This can help to break the cycle of poverty by providing people with the tools they need to save, invest, and build their businesses.

e. Promoting social inclusion - 

AI can be used to develop new tools and technologies that can help to promote social inclusion. This includes things like chatbots that can provide mental health support, or AI-powered translation tools that can help people communicate across language barriers.

These are just a few of the ways that AI can help the poor. As AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative ways to use AI to address the root causes of poverty and improve the lives of people living in poverty.

Surprisingly some of the AI elements are already in place (how cool is that) designed to aid the poor:

i. United States

AI is being used to develop a new type of educational tool that can help students learn to code. The tool, called Codecademy, uses AI to personalize the learning experience for each student. This helps students learn at their own pace and focus on the areas where they need the most help.

ii. Kenya

AI is being used to develop a chatbot that can provide financial advice to people living in poverty. The chatbot, called M-Akiba, is able to assess a person's financial situation and recommend savings and investment products that are tailored to their needs.

iii. India

AI is being used to develop a new type of crop insurance that is more affordable and accessible to farmers. The insurance is based on AI-powered weather models that can predict the likelihood of crop failure. This allows farmers to get insurance even if they don't have a traditional credit history

Future Impacts

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly impact the lives of the poor by addressing various challenges they face and providing solutions in multiple domains.

Here are some trades/industries that I foresee how AI can potentially have positive impacts on poverty :

1.0 Healthcare

AI can enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability for the poor by providing accurate and quick diagnoses, especially in areas with limited medical resources. AI algorithms can analyze medical data, identify patterns, and assist in the early detection of diseases. Since we already have telemedicine platforms, they can be enhanced further by AI to connect patients in remote areas with healthcare professionals.

2.0 Education

I've said this before and I'm going to say this again :

AI can improve access to quality education for disadvantaged communities. Intelligent tutoring systems can offer personalized learning experiences, adapt to individual student needs, and provide educational content in different languages. AI-powered chatbots can also provide guidance and support to students, especially those lacking access to traditional educational institutions.

3.0 Agriculture

AI can enhance agricultural productivity and reduce poverty in rural areas. AI-powered technologies can provide farmers with information about weather patterns, crop diseases, and optimal planting and harvesting times. By analyzing soil data, AI can offer recommendations for optimal fertilization and irrigation techniques, leading to increased yields and reduced costs.

4.0 Financial Services

AI-driven tools can expand financial inclusion by providing banking and financial services to the poor. AI algorithms can assess creditworthiness and offer microloans to individuals without a traditional credit history. Chatbots and virtual assistants can also assist with financial planning, budgeting, and offering guidance on financial literacy.

5.0 Disaster Response

AI can aid in disaster response and management to mitigate the impact on vulnerable populations. Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data from various sources (such as social media, satellite imagery, and sensors) to predict and detect disasters, improve emergency response times, and allocate resources more effectively.

6.0 Employment and Skills Training

AI can help the poor acquire new skills and access employment opportunities. Online platforms powered by AI can provide vocational training, matching job seekers with suitable positions. AI algorithms can analyze labor market trends and provide insights to governments and organizations, enabling them to create targeted policies and programs to uplift the poor.

Despite the great potentials, we may also have to deal with challenges such as data biases, ethical considerations, and the need for proper infrastructure and resources to ensure equitable access.

However, when implemented responsibly and inclusively, AI can contribute to reducing poverty and empowering marginalized communities.

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