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BIODATA - NIK ZAFRI


 



NIK ZAFRI BIN ABDUL MAJID,
CONSULTANT/TRAINER
Email: nikzafri@yahoo.com, nikzafri@gmail.com
https://nikzafri.wixstudio.com/nikzafriv2

Kelantanese, Alumni of Sultan Ismail College Kelantan (SICA), Business Management/Administration, 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 :- Council/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/Technical Experts for leading consulting firms (local and international), certification bodies including project management. To name a few – Noma SWO Consult, Amiosh Resources, Timur West Consultant Sdn. Bhd., TIJ Consultants Group (Malaysia and Singapore), QHSEL Consultancy Sdn. Bhd.

He is also currently holding the Position of Principal Consultant/Executive Director (Special Projects) - Systems and Methods, ESG, QHSE at QHSEL Consultancy Sdn. Bhd.* 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), ABAC Centre of Excellence UK (ABMS ISO 37001) Joint Assessment (Technical Expert)

* 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 :


TO SEE ALL ARTICLES

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"


 

Showing posts with label GreenRE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GreenRE. Show all posts

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Data Centers in Malaysia: Purpose, Potential, and Challenges - Overview by Nik Zafri


1) INTRODUCTION

In today's digitally driven world, data centers form the backbone of national infrastructure. Malaysia has been steadily positioning itself as a strategic hub for data center development, thanks to its stable climate, strategic geographic location in Southeast Asia, robust connectivity, and pro-investment government policies. But beyond the appeal lies the complex reality of running and maintaining high-performance data centers.

2) PURPOSE

Data centers are specialized facilities designed to store, process, and disseminate digital data. They host the infrastructure that supports cloud computing, enterprise operations, government digital transformation initiatives, content delivery, banking and finance transactions, e-commerce platforms, and a vast range of online services.

Organizations depend on data centers for:

  • Data storage and backup
  • Secure hosting environments
  • Disaster recovery and business continuity
  • Real-time data processing
  • Edge computing and IoT integration

In short, data centers are the nervous system of modern economies, quietly powering everything from emails to AI workloads.


2.1 WHY IT MATTERS

Data centers store, process, and manage the data that powers:


Malaysia’s appeal as a data center location includes:

  • Proximity to global undersea cable landing points,
  • Growing demand from the ASEAN digital economy, 
  • Competitive energy prices and workforce,
  • Political neutrality, compared to other regional hubs


2.2 INDUSTRY GROWTH

According to MDEC, Malaysia has attracted over RM10 billion in data center investments over the past five years. Demand is expected to double by 2030, driven by cloud adoption, 5G, and AI.

Globally, Malaysia ranks in the top 5 emerging APAC data center markets, with multiple projects in progress or recently completed.

3) ADVANTAGES

3.1 Strategic Location - Malaysia’s proximity to major Asian markets makes it an ideal node in regional data flow.

3.2 Competitive Energy Costs - Energy prices remain relatively competitive compared to neighboring countries, critical for an industry that is extremely power-intensive.

3.3 Regulatory Support - The Malaysian government has introduced incentives for digital infrastructure investments under its various economic blueprints and digital economy initiatives.

3.4 Abundant Talent Pool - Local universities and polytechnics are producing graduates in ICT, engineering, and technical fields that support operations and maintenance needs.

3.5 Political Stability and Neutrality - For global companies concerned with data sovereignty and neutrality, Malaysia remains a stable and neutral ground.

4) CHALLENGES

Despite the growth and demand, data centers face multiple operational and maintenance issues, such as:

4.1 Power Reliability and Redundancy - Even short interruptions in power can lead to data loss or downtime. Although backup systems (like UPS and generators) are standard, poor maintenance or system misconfigurations can lead to failure during critical moments.

Some sites face unexpected generator failures due to irregular servicing or fuel contamination. In one real-world scenario, a testing exercise revealed backup power would not kick in within 10 seconds, a violation of Tier III design expectations.

Requiring - Strict load testing regimes, fuel conditioning, and biannual third-party audits of generator and UPS systems.

4.2 Cooling System Efficiency - Malaysia’s tropical climate demands efficient and scalable cooling systems. Overreliance on traditional air conditioning systems leads to higher energy consumption and operational costs.

At least one facility experienced 15% higher PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) than design specs due to unsealed raised floors and inefficient hot aisle containment. This raised operational costs significantly.


4.3 Security Threats - Both cybersecurity and physical security are ongoing concerns. Breaches whether digital or physical can result in substantial financial and reputational damage. Many operators still rely on legacy security systems. One attempted intrusion during a patching window exploited outdated firewall settings. While no data was lost, it triggered urgent compliance reviews.

4.4 Resource Management - This includes everything from water for cooling to land use and waste disposal (especially for e-waste and batteries). Improper handling poses environmental and compliance risks.

4.5 Latency and Connectivity Bottlenecks - As demand grows, ensuring low-latency and high-bandwidth connectivity becomes increasingly challenging, especially when scaling out to meet regional or edge-computing needs.

4.6 Maintenance Downtime - Scheduled maintenance can still pose risks if not properly coordinated with clients and redundancies. Poorly planned upgrades may cause unexpected interruptions.

5) MITIGATION

To keep operations efficient and sustainable, data center developers and operators adopt several best practices:

5.1 Tiered Redundancy Designs - Using globally recognized standards such as Tier ratings, data centers can plan for different levels of fault tolerance and downtime acceptability.

A Tier III-level facility experienced significant downtime risk during an annual preventive maintenance when a generator load bank failed. This led to reengineering of their maintenance coordination process using a three-layer escalation protocol, including simulation testing of N+1 configurations.

The lesson: "Redundancy on paper is not resilience in practice without rigorous testing and alignment with live operational behaviors."

5.2 Efficient Cooling Solutions - Implementing advanced technologies like liquid cooling, hot/cold aisle containment, and AI-based temperature optimization systems can greatly reduce power usage. (e.g.) Adoption of liquid cooling, AI-controlled HVAC, CFD simulation for airflow design.

5.3 Regular Audits and Testing - Continuous commissioning, predictive maintenance, and disaster simulation exercises ensure system readiness and resilience.

5.4 Adoption of Green Technologies - Use of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient servers, and LEED-certified building materials can reduce carbon footprint and improve ESG compliance. This is also related to Climate Change which is addressed in ABMS ISO 37001 where the companies need to start developing the system and applied for certification.

5.5 Cybersecurity Frameworks - Implementing zero-trust architectures, regular penetration testing, and compliance with relevant standards to enhance security readiness. (e.g. Shift toward Zero Trust Architecture, network segmentation, and regular penetration testing per ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST SP 800-53)

5.6 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance is becoming non-negotiable. Stakeholders, especially global hyperscalers are demanding green certifications and energy usage transparency.

Key metrics to monitor:

  • Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE): Optimal < 1.5
  • Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE): Minimal where air-cooled solutions are viable
  • Renewable Energy %: Still below 15% for most Malaysian DCs (2024)

5.7 Up-skilling Workforce - There’s an ongoing shortage of Uptime-certified engineers and facility managers. Most sites operate with lean teams, increasing the risk of fatigue-related human error. Continuous training and certification for data center staff is vital to keep up with evolving technologies and protocols. 

6.0 WHAT FUTURE-READY DATA CENTERS TO LOOK LIKE

  • Design for Modularity and Scalability
  • Avoid over-provisioning. Build in phases, leveraging prefabricated solutions.
  • Implement AI-Driven Monitoring
  • Use predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and real-time environmental monitoring.
  • Green Certification Pathway
Plan for LEED, GreenRE, or ISO 50001 and ABMS ISO 37001 (2025) compliance from the design phase.

6.1 Community Engagement and Transparency

As energy-intensive operations, data centers must engage openly with local communities, sharing ESG reports and impact disclosures.

6. CONCLUSION

Malaysia’s data center industry is poised for continued growth, fueled by digital transformation, e-commerce expansion, and regional demand. However, as reliance on data increases, so does the complexity of maintaining these mission-critical facilities. With proper design, proactive risk management, and sustainable practices, Malaysia can continue to offer reliable and efficient data center services contributing significantly to both its economy and digital aspirations.






Wednesday, October 23, 2024

TRAFFIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT (TIA) REPORT SUMMARY FOR …………………ROAD…….(5 KM)

 


(Shared by me - Nik Zafri for educational purposes; some data and details have been omitted—use at your discretion, expand the points and add appendices where applicable)

1.0 PROJECT OVERVIEW

A proposed mixed-use development (residential, commercial, and retail) is expected to increase traffic along ………, a 5 km stretch of road connecting key areas within the city.

The purpose of this TIA is to evaluate the potential traffic impacts from the new development on the road network.


2.0 REFERENCES

2.1     Resources on TIA and RSA from Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia

2.2     Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Guidelines - providing best practices for traffic impact studies and analysis.

2.3    TIA Resources from IPM Professional Services (IPMPS)

2.4     AASHTO Green Book: "A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets" sets the geometric design standards for roadways.

2.5     National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Reports: Guidance on evaluating traffic impact and the development of effective mitigation measures.

2.6     Code of Practice on Safety, Health and Environment for Transportation Sector (SHE Code), 2007 (DOSH/JKKP Malaysia)

2.7     Code of Practice for Road Transport Activities, 2010 (DOSH/JKKP Malaysia)

2.8     LEED and GBI Certification Standards (PAM, ACE, GreenRE and CIDB Malaysia)

2.9     Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD): Establishes guidelines for traffic control devices to ensure safe and efficient movement of traffic.

2.10   ISO 39001: Road traffic safety management systems that provide a framework for organizations to reduce road traffic accidents.

2.11  Environmental Quality Act and Occupational Safety and Health Act Malaysia respectively w/a

2.12  All other relevant guidelines, standards and codes of practice.


3.0  EXISTING CONDITIONS



4.0  PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT



5.0  ANALYSIS



6.0  CONCLUSION

Without intervention, the development will increase congestion on ……., leading to reduced travel speeds and longer queues at intersections during peak hours. Implementing the recommended mitigation measures will help maintain an acceptable LOS (C) and support the growth in traffic demand.