Special Interest Group (SIG)

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to exceptional socio-economic impact and changed the lives of 7.8 billion people all over the world including Malaysia.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus how vulnerable humankind is to the impact of changes to the ecosystem, natural environment, and biodiversity. It indicates our failure in controlling zoonosis and in responsible biodiversity efforts. Malaysia is ranked as the 12th most biodiverse country in the world. However, Malaysia registers an alarmingly poor biodiversity status. Its Ecological Footprint Consumption is between 3.5 - 5.25 global hectares which is much worse than other Southeast Asian nations.

Zoonotic diseases have been an important concern to mankind since the beginning of the domestication of animals 10,000 years ago. It is responsible for an estimated 2.5 billion cases of human illness and 2.7 million deaths worldwide each year. In Malaysia itself, several zoonotic diseases have impacted the country before the COVID-19 pandemic, such as Nipah virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, H5N, H1N1, H7N9 and Zika virus.

This SIG developed a holistic, evidence-based position paper focusing on the opportunities and implications for Malaysia to venture into Hydrogen Economy. The position paper was endorsed by 142nd ASM Council meeting on 3 December 2020.

Robotics is a key driving technology, which underpins a whole new generation of autonomous devices and cognitive artefacts towards a seamless interaction with the world, socio-economic development, competitiveness, and advancement of the nation. It positively influences every aspect of life, raises efficiency and safety levels, and provides enhanced levels of service.

The ASM Special Interest Group on Machine Learning (SIGML) tasked to formulate a position paper on the “Setting the Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Agenda for Homegrown Artificial Intelligence (AI) Solutions for Common Good”. This paper highlights the important role AI will play in Malaysia’s development and proposes key policy and strategy recommendations that may take the nation on a fast trajectory of adoption and deployment. An accelerated and wide-ranging initiative for adoption and deployment is urgently needed, given the breadth and depth of AI’s rising impact on contemporary society.

Blue Economy has been among the important agenda of most countries in the world, aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 - Life Below Water. Due to its huge potential for socio-economic development, the global ocean economy was estimated to reach USD 3.0 trillion by 2030.