DATA CENTRE - TIER I, II, III AND IV - FUNDAMENTAL GUIDE - NIK ZAFRI

WHO DEFINES THE STANDARDS?

The Uptime Institute (founded in 1993, USA) created the Tier Standard. They remain the only recognized authority that can certify a data centre as Tier I–IV.

Many vendors say “Tier III equivalent” → this means built to Tier III design principles, but NOT CERTIFIED. Only Uptime Institute can issue the certificate.

If another consultant/contractor says “Tier III” without Uptime’s certification → it’s only “Tier III design standard”, NOT OFFICIAL.

UPTIME INSTITUTE CERTIFIED DATA CENTRES IN MALAYSIA

Here are some prominent Malaysian data centres that have achieved official Uptime Institute Tier certifications.

1. Irix Kuching 1 DC @ Santubong (Sarawak)

Tier IV Certification of Constructed Facility (TCCF) awarded in February 2025 making it Malaysia’s first fully Tier IV certified data centre. This certifies fault-tolerant infrastructure delivering ~99.995% uptime. 

It had earlier achieved the Tier IV Certification of Design Documents (TCDD) in October 2021. 

2. AIMS Cyberjaya Data Centre (Selangor)

Awarded Tier III Certification of Design Documents in April 2020.

Followed by :

Tier III Certification of Constructed Facility in May 2021. 

This confirms the centre is concurrently maintainable and built to Tier III standards.

3. NTT Cyberjaya 5 Data Centre (Cyberjaya)

Received Tier III Certification of Design Documents and Tier III Certification of Constructed Facility in early 2021. 

The facility is also noted as "Tier IV ready," though not yet fully certified at that level. 

4. TM ONE Iskandar Puteri Data Centre (Johor)

Awarded Tier III Certification of Constructed Facility.

Part of TM ONE’s “twin core” strategy to support business continuity between Iskandar Puteri and Klang Valley.

ACCREDITED DESIGNERS AND CONSULTANTS IN MALAYSIA

To design a Tier-compliant facility, professionals recognized by Uptime Institute as Accredited Tier Designers (ATDs) need to be engaged .Here are some Malaysian individuals and organizations on the official ATD roster.

• Ts. Ryan Loh Choon Wee – Head, Data Centre Planning, AIMS Data Centre (Kuala Lumpur)
• Chi Yen Chan – Associate Director, MEG CONSULT SDN BHD  (Kuala Lumpur),
• Wong Chat Wai – Manager, Emerson Network Power (Petaling Jaya)

Many others – including professionals at KCLA Architects + Engineers, Schneider Electric IT Malaysia, C2 Consult, Greatians Consulting Sdn Bhd , Telekom Malaysia, Vertiv, and more 

READ MORE : 

DATA CENTERS IN MALAYSIA : PURPOSE, POTENTIAL, CHALLENGES

The Real Story of AI: From the 40s to The 21st Century - by Nik Zafri

Ai History Article

Ai History Article

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most misunderstood terms in technology. It is often portrayed as futuristic robots or sci-fi machines, but AI is much broader and more grounded. At its core, AI refers to systems or machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, problem-solving, perception, language understanding, and decision-making. It’s not always about robots; it’s about giving machines the ability to mimic or adapt aspects of human thought.

2.0 AI vs. AUTOMATION

Before AI, there was automation, macros in spreadsheets like Lotus 1-2-3 (been using this excellent software from 1991) or programs in washing machines. These are examples of fixed, pre-programmed instructions: they don’t learn or reason, but they laid the groundwork. They showed that machines could handle tasks on our behalf, hinting at the possibilities of smarter systems.

3.0 EARLY FOUNDATIONS

3.1 1940s–1980s

The conceptual seeds of AI were planted in the 1940s and 50s. Alan Turing proposed that machines could think and developed the famous Turing Test in 1950.

In 1956, at the Dartmouth Conference, John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, and Claude Shannon coined the term “Artificial Intelligence.”

Early programs could solve math problems or play checkers. The 1960s–80s saw the rise of expert systems and rule-based programs, as well as early robotics. These systems were manually coded but could simulate reasoning, laying important groundwork.

3.1.1 Networking and Computing Power

ARPANET to the Web AI’s growth depended on computing and connectivity. ARPANET in the late 1960s connected research mainframes, allowing AI researchers to share code and data. NSFNET in the 1980s expanded this collaboration to academic institutions. Mainframes and supercomputers, like IBM’s and DEC’s, powered early AI experiments, from chess programs to knowledge-based systems. The 1990s brought the Internet and early browsers (Mosaic, Netscape), which made information widely accessible. Search engines like Yahoo and Google used AI techniques to index and rank vast amounts of data, bringing AI concepts into everyday tools.

Robotics and AI - The Body and Brain Early robots like Arok in the 1970s were mechanical marvels, using hydraulics, motors, and remote control. They were the body, not the brain: pre-programmed, unable to adapt or learn. Modern robotics layers AI on top, providing perception, planning, and decision-making. Hydraulics remain the muscles; AI is now the brain.

3.2 1990s–2000s

From Theory to Everyday Use Statistical methods and machine learning became mainstream. AI slipped quietly into products: spam filters, recommendation engines, speech recognition. While not always visible, these were significant leaps toward intelligent systems.

3.3 2001–2010

Data-Driven AI Manufacturing embraced automation and robotics, with companies like Fanuc and ABB leading industrial automation. Sensors and vision systems improved quality control. Machine learning moved beyond rules to statistical models like support vector machines and early neural networks. Public awareness grew through robots like Honda’s ASIMO and films like A.I.: Artificial Intelligence.

3.4 2010–2020

Deep Learning and Industry

This period saw a revolution. Deep learning enabled breakthroughs in image recognition, speech, and natural language. Tools like TensorFlow and PyTorch made machine learning accessible, while cloud platforms provided power and scale. Manufacturing adopted predictive analytics and connected machines (Industry 4.0). Humanoid robots like Sophia ( Hanson Robotics Limited , 2016) gained public attention. Though mostly scripted, Sophia showcased how robotics, AI, and design could merge for lifelike interaction. AlphaGo’s victory in 2016 highlighted strategic reasoning power. Autonomous vehicles began real-world trials.

3.5 2020–2025

Generative AI and Advanced Robotics - Recent years brought generative AI into the spotlight. Large language models (like GPT-4 and GPT-5), multimodal systems, and image/video generators show creative abilities once reserved for humans. Manufacturing uses AI-driven digital twins, collaborative robots, and autonomous systems. Humanoid robots such as Ameca Robotics offer even more lifelike gestures and speech, though they remain largely demonstrations. Cloud computing, 5G, and edge devices allow real-time AI operations, while ethical and regulatory discussions intensify worldwide.

4.0 THE DARK SIDE?

AI in Warfare and Media AI also raises serious ethical challenges. Autonomous weapons (drones, loitering munitions) can select targets with minimal human oversight, risking errors and accountability gaps. AI powers surveillance, predictive analytics, and cyberwarfare, while deepfakes and AI-generated propaganda threaten trust and stability. International laws are struggling to keep pace.

4.1 AI systems can be corrupted or disrupted by malicious software, though the mechanism is slightly different from traditional viruses.

• Traditional Malware Attacks,
• Adversarial or Data Poisoning Attacks,
• Model Manipulation and Backdoors,
• Cloud and API Exploits

AI is not “immune”; it’s as vulnerable as the environment it runs in. Strong cybersecurity practices, secure training pipelines, and ethical AI governance are crucial.

4.2 AI and Human Creativity Generative AI can create images, music, video, and text. Images are snapshots, videos add motion and context, making them harder to verify and more persuasive. While these tools expand creativity, they challenge ideas of originality, authorship, and trust. Artists worry about their styles being replicated; at the same time, many use AI as a collaborator. The future likely values authenticity even more. Just as handmade crafts became prized in an industrial age, human-made art may become a premium symbol in the AI era.

4.3 Beyond Sci-Fi - VR, AR, MR and AI Immersive technologies depend heavily on AI. VR simulates worlds for training or entertainment; AR overlays data in real space; MR blends them both. AI powers object recognition, spatial mapping, and adaptive interactions. These tools are changing manufacturing, healthcare, defense, and entertainment, offering new ways to learn, work, and collaborate but also raising privacy and security risks.

Will they go against us, just like the movies?

It's possible to theorize, though these are still speculative scenarios.

i. “I, Robot” Scenario, Autonomy and Conflict

If AI systems gain higher autonomy and decision-making capabilities (especially in robotics, defense, and infrastructure), the risk of unintended consequences rises. A misalignment between AI’s programmed goals and human ethics could cause harm whether through accidents, malfunctions, or misuse by bad actors. However, strict regulations, AI alignment research, and ethical frameworks aim to prevent such outcomes.

ii. “Matrix” Scenario – Control and Dependency

The bigger risk may not be AI turning hostile, but humans becoming overly dependent on it. As AI integrates into finance, healthcare, manufacturing, governance, and personal life, there’s a chance of systemic control not by conscious machines, but by those who own and deploy AI systems. This could lead to surveillance, manipulation (deepfakes, algorithmic bias), and loss of personal agency.

iii. The Middle Ground – Human-AI Coexistence

A more likely path is continued integration with checks and balance.

AI assisting in decision-making, robotics enhancing productivity, and immersive tech like VR/AR/MR reshaping experiences. Risks will remain, but the focus will be on governance, ethics, cybersecurity, and AI safety research to ensure beneficial use.

5.0 CONCLUSION

AI is not a single invention but a continuum of progress: from macros to machine learning, from remote-controlled arms to humanoid robots, from ARPANET to generative AI. Its history shows a dance between computing power, connectivity, and creativity. Today, AI touches manufacturing floors, art studios, battlefields, and classrooms. The challenge is not only technological but ethical: to ensure AI remains a tool for progress and creativity, not manipulation or harm. The next chapter will depend on how we balance innovation with responsibility.

READ MORE 

1) Beyond the Hype: Why VR, AR, and MR Still Struggle in Architecture and Construction : Nik Zafri

2) A.I and the Future of Architectural AR/VR/MR

3) How Can AI Benefit the Poor?

4) AI vs. Human: Redefining Work, Not Replacing It - A Wake-Up Call for Every Generation - By Nik Zafri

5) How Artificial Intelligence and Apps Can Help the Visually Impaired (including blindness to Conduct Banking and Financial Transaction

6) AI, Where do I Signup? (Dear Malaysians)

SEDIKIT CATATAN SEJARAH ALTERNATIF - OLEH NIK ZAFRI

Tulisan berikut banyak berdasarkan teori dan fakta. Ada unsur pendapat sejarah alternatif di dalam tulisan ini - namun saya cuba sedaya upaya menulisnya dengan sebaik mungkin - mengikut perspektif dan kajian saya sendiri, benar atau tidak, hanya Allah SWT sahaja yang tahu. Dari itu, pertimbangan pembaca di atas hal ini amatlah diperlukan.

Jika nak kisahkan mengenai sejarah Kerajaan Tua Champa ni dan kaitannya dengan Raja-Raja Melayu memanglah rumit kerana jurangnya terlalu jauh. Apatah lagi, sebagaimana Reman, Champa sudah tidak lagi wujud lokasinya. (samalah sejarah Kembayat Negara (yang dikaitkan dengan Siti Kenturah (Riwayat Israeliyat) yang berkahwin dengan Nabi Allah Ibrahim a.s.) telah mengalami perubahan dan dikatakan ditukar menjadi Cambodia walhal perkataan "Cam" atau "Cham" di hadapan nama negara tersebut jelas merujuk kepada penduduk Champa yang  telah melarikan diri bertebaran di Cambodia/Kamboja, Siam dan akhirnya ke Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang dan utara Semenanjung (malah sempadan Semenanjung juga asalnya jajahan takluknya sehingga ke Segenting Kra - kini milik Myanmar/Thailand dengan menghalau pula penduduk Islam Rohingya - penduduk asal di bawah Kerajaan Arakian)

Alangkan sejarah Sultan Muzaffar 1 (Phra On Mahawanser) pun agak sukar dikisahkan kerana terlalu banyak sumber/dakwaan. Contohnya ada pihak percaya bahawa keturunan Sultan Muzaffar 1 adalah keturunan Islam yang datang sekitar kurun ke 10 dan 11 Masihi, (Golongan Kurdis) - wallahualam. Cuma agama Islam menjadi agama rasmi negara di zaman Sultan Muzaffar 1. 

Kedatangan Syed Abdullah Al-Qumairy adalah sebagai pentajdid dua kalimah syahadah apabila didapati ajaran Islam ketika itu telah diserap dengan unsur animisma. (kisah yang sama berlaku semasa zaman walisongo - penduduk sememangnya beragama Islam tetapi telah diperbaharui dua kalimah syahadahnya kerana dikhuatiri bercampur aduk dengan unsur syirik yang boleh menggugat aqidah)

Ada sumber tidak dapat disahkan, dipercayai keturunan asal Brawijaya, juga dipercayai beragama Islam (wallahualam) 

Menariknya Brawijaya bukan gelaran rasmi Pemerintah Kerajaan Majapahit melainkan istilah ini adalah istilah baru yang muncul dalam Babad (sejenis syair) Tanah Jawi dan masyhur di kalangan masyarakat Trowulan, Mojokerto. Istilah "Brawijaya" pertama kali muncul adalah hasil tulisan pujangga Mataram Islam pada abad ke-19 dan agak jauh jurangnya dengan zaman Majapahit yang dibincangkan di sini.

Tidak ada catatan yang ditemukan dalam catatan rasmi kerajaan Majapahit seperti prasasti atau naskhah kuno lainnya. Namun, istilah ini sering dikaitkan dengan raja-raja terakhir Majapahit, terutama Prabu Brawijaya V yang diyakini sebagai raja terakhir yang memimpin Majapahit dan membuka pintu penyebaran Islam di Jawa. Brawijaya V telah berkahwin dengan Puteri Champa (Dewi Kiem/Amarawati) (Islam dipercayai menjadi agama rasmi negara ketika zaman Brawijaya V)

Anakanda Brawijaya V bernama Nyai Chondrowati telah berkahwin dengan Sultan Abdullah Umatuddin (keturunan Syed Hussein Jamadil Kubra yang juga seorang mujaddid dengan misi yang sama iaitu membersihkan aqidah masyarakat (yang sememangnya telah beragama Islam) tetapi berunsurkan campuraduk. (Dan misi beliau juga ialah mensyahadahkan kembali penduduk sekitarnya) Maka bermulalah kembali era Islam sebagai agama rasmi sebagaimana zaman Sultan Muzaffar 1 dan Brawijaya V)

Perlu diingatkan apabila saya menyebut Tanah Jawi, saya tidak merujuk kepada satu kawasan sahaja tetapi merujuk kepada seluruh Nusantara di bawah Pemerintahan Sultan Muzaffar 1 ketika itu. "Jawi" mengikut tulisan ulama Nusantara - Syeikh Wan Ahmad Fathani adalah perkataan Arab - "jawah" - yang digunakan dalam Bahasa Malaysia sebagai "jauh" (merujuk kepada bangsa Melayu yang berasal dari tanah yang jauh)

Apa yang saya cuba jelaskan di sini ialah :

a) Kemungkinan sejarah ditulis (dipinda) oleh pihak yang menang - itu perkara biasa,

b) Jika kita nak mengaitkan silsilah keturunan kita dengan kerajaan-kerajaan lama, ianya usaha yang agak sukar kerana jurang masa yang agak luas malah usaha ini akan menyelitkan dakwaan-dakwaan tertentu (yang dipercayai dhaif dan tidak boleh digunakan sebagai bahan rujukan rasmi) tanpa bukti yang jelas. 

Saya lebih suka kepada pendekatan :

i) Melakukan silsilah yang bernasab "direct" (langsung) kepada keturunan asal dan cuba sedaya-upaya mengelakkan "ranting" (kerana perkahwinan) kerana ianya menjadikan usaha saya lebih rumit,

ii)  Saya akan cuba cari nama yang paling dekat dengan keturunan saya terlebih dahulu barulah disambung kepada silsilah besar (master) yang mana silsilah besar ini telah lama wujud dalam sejarah dan kitab-kitab lama.

iii) Yang terbaik ialah adanya ujian DNA genealogi yang dapat memberikan pencerahan yang terbaik mengenai asal-usul kekeluargaan kita. Ianya mampu mematikan segala dakwaan dan hujjah/teori yang tidak konkrit.

Wallahualam.