A PIECE OF ADVICE TO MY PEERS

My advice to some of my peers :

When blessings come to you as a public figure—or an influencer, or a celebrity, or a leader, former CEO maybe—it's akin to a joyous celebration of life. However, when it's your time to step away, it's best to gracefully exit the spotlight.

Once you depart, it's a genuine departure. Embrace new endeavors—explore different professions or businesses, write books or great articles, cherish valuable moments with your family, and more.

Trust me, standing by your convictions earns admiration from others.  The positive actions you've taken will be remembered without needing your prompting. People may even feel proud to uphold your principles and continue your legacy. That's truly something worth cherishing.

There is another way for you to become relevant. It's when you are being asked or invited to a once familiar place or topic to you. It's more noble to be invited cordially rather than you yourself force into the action.

Do not linger beyond your invitation; once your task is fulfilled, gracefully step out of the spotlight once more.

Regrettably, some individuals cling to the limelight, pushing aside the new generation to maintain their place. These individuals will eventually face a disgraceful ousting, becoming a disgrace in the eyes of others as well.

HEALTHCARE - WHERE ARE WE NOW - LITTLE RESEARCH BY NIK ZAFRI

Disclaimer : I am not a qualified medical practitioner. Therefore, the following should be considered a perspective from a management consultant.

Healthcare stands as one of the pivotal elements in our existence. Over the years, the Malaysian healthcare system has showcased several positive aspects in medical advancements producing groundbreaking medical technologies, treatments, and medications that improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

There have been some improvement in terms of access especially for underserved communities, through so many initiatives beginning with the inception of telemedicine to the establishment of community health centers.

Furthermore, research and innovation are ongoing on disease prevention, diagnostics, and treatment, leading to better understanding and management of various illnesses.

I am particularly impressed with public health initiatives; especially during Covid-19 Pandemic where they actively promote public health through vaccination programs, health education, and disease prevention campaigns.

There's also a growing emphasis on multidisciplinary and collaborative care approaches, ensuring patients receive holistic treatment from various healthcare professionals.

Other notable achievements are advancements in precision medicine, where treatments are tailored to an individual's genetic makeup, leading to more effective and personalized care.

Despite the integration of artificial intelligence and big data analytics are still not been fully implemented - which is aimed to transform healthcare by improving diagnostics, predicting disease outbreaks, and enhancing treatment plans but most of my healthcare community I met - are excited considering the burdens they are facing now - having to do many things "the old fashion way" (whatever that means)

However, where there are advancements, I still notice several areas that needs improvement namely :

1) Access and Affordability

Making Malaysian healthcare more accessible and affordable for all remains a significant challenge despite efforts have been put. Addressing issues related to insurance coverage, reducing healthcare costs, and ensuring access to care for marginalized populations are crucial.

2) Healthcare Technology Integration

Enhancing interoperability among healthcare systems and electronic health records can improve coordination among providers, leading to better-informed care decisions.

3) Data Integration

Issues have arisen regarding the integration of medical data across various platforms, primarily due to privacy concerns and potential political factors. Consequently, this has led to challenges in cross-referencing and organizing patients' medical histories, potentially resulting in misdiagnosis or incorrect prescriptions.

4) Preventive Care

Shifting the focus toward preventive care and health promotion can reduce the burden of chronic diseases and improve overall population health.

5) Mental Health Support

Despite mental health education on the rise, unfortunately this issue is not being looked into seriously.

Increasing awareness and resources for mental health services is essential to address the growing mental health crisis.

6) Workforce Development

Investing in training and retaining healthcare professionals, especially in areas facing shortages, is vital to ensure adequate care provision.

Conclusion

Upgrading the healthcare system involves a multi-faceted approach, including policy changes, investment in technology, improved infrastructure, and a focus on patient-centered care. Collaboration between government, healthcare providers, insurers, and the community is key to successfully upgrade and enhance the Malaysian healthcare system.

I DON'T DO NAMES DROPPING

 

I prefer not to mention specific names, but due to the numerous inquiries on this topic, I felt compelled to address it. Indeed, many cousins, 2nd cousins or relatives of mine have connections to various fields such as law, engineering, medical, accountancy, construction, entertainment and project management.

However, I've worked independently to reach my current position and prefer to be recognized for my own achievements. If you're interested in knowing more about my close relatives, I encourage you to reach out to them directly.

DATA PRIVACY, IS IT REALLY SAFE? - NIK ZAFRI

Data Privacy must be the most important topic for the day.

Organization should have a clear policy outlining how they collect, use, store and protect personal information of individual.  Policy; in this context; must be deemed as a legal statement not simply a written policy pasted on the wall. It must be something that inform users about their rights regarding their personal data.

Data Privacy should take into account :

a) Information collected - details on types of data collected from users/customers - such as names, email, addresses, phone numbers, addresses, even birthdays etc. As such any typical CRM system that collects such data MUST BE protected at the front office level or quality assurance level or public relation level (do not overlap one another)

Three examples :

i) if birthdays are revealed to third parties, it may pave to way to corruption. Or;

ii) like what's happening today; phone numbers are being collected by scammers and conners. There are rumours that these information are being sold internally to 3rd parties - what is the top management action on this issue?

iii) How secure is the protection of the collection system? How good is the firewall or other anti-hacking facilities?

b) Purpose of Data Collection - There should be jsutifications of why the data is being collected especially when being asked by users/customers. This can range from processing orders to improving services or marketing purposes.

c) How will the Data be Used - Information on how the collected data will be utilized by the organization.

d) Data Sharing - Disclosure about whether the organization shares user data with third parties and the reasons for doing so.

e) User Rights - Explanation of users' rights regarding their data, such as the right to access, rectify, or delete their information.

f) Data Security Measure - Details about the security measures in place to protect the collected data from unauthorized access or breaches.

g) Contact Information - Information on how users can contact the organization regarding their data privacy concerns or requests.

h) If there is a breach, exposure, or hacking of the collected data, will there be a specific investigation or special enquiry? What penalties might the organization face if found responsible for such a breach?

(Are our strategies for witness protection, anti-corruption, and governance/transparency proving effective?)

Data Privacy Policies are important for transparency and compliance with data protection laws (such as GDPR in Europe or CCPA in California). They help users understand how their personal information is handled and provide them with a level of assurance about its protection.

DSP # 7 Public-Private Partnerships: Key Component to Creating A Mature Data Ecosystem - (in my view - Nik Zafri)

It was an incredibly enriching and valuable discussion. Both the speaker and moderator were exceptional. The Q&A segment was especially captivating, allowing for a fantastic exchange between myself, the moderator, and the passionate, deeply knowledgeable speaker, Mr. Ivan Mortimer-Schutts, showcasing his extensive experience in the field through thorough and passionate discussions on various topics.

I am particularly interested in the topics such as :

Fostering collaborations between governmental bodies and the public (with universities also playing a significant part) to promote conscientious data sharing involves multiple facets: creating awareness and educating the public. This effort necessitates establishing collaborative structures. Additional factors to consider encompass privacy and security concerns, policy formulation, engagement strategies, feedback mechanisms, ethical frameworks, incentivizing responsible data sharing, addressing challenges, and harnessing expertise to implement responsible data-sharing practices.

I observed the impending necessity for Malaysia to establish a civic society-focused entity dedicated to enhancing awareness regarding data, which would play a pivotal role in promoting responsible data practices. This organization would engage in educational and advocacy efforts, regulatory framework establishment, guideline formulation, governance, fostering data literacy, and providing legal support, especially for marginalized groups. Such an entity has the potential to empower individuals, foster trust, encourage dialogue, wield influence, stimulate economic growth, prevent misuse, and ultimately cultivate a culture of responsibility. However, there is a need for further research into successful models and case studies from other nations to adapt and tailor them to suit the Malaysian context.

Common concerns have also been addressed but suffice it to say, you can refer to this article of mine to know more.

https://nikzafri.blogspot.com/2023/11/concerns-on-national-data-sharing-policy.html

Good job Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Malaysiakini BM , Digital News Asia and the Government of Malaysia.