By Jennifer Jacobs

Digital Edge (previously known as Enterprise, which in turn was formerly known as Unlisted and Unlimited) was set up as a section that would focus on small and medium enterprises. Even back then, our focus was on technology and globalisation, although we did enjoy telling stories of the little guy who started out against all odds and ran a company with little technology but a lot of heart.

Two name changes and one pandemic later, suddenly, it was all about the technology. Companies were rushing to get online and automate. And with a looming national digital blueprint, even CEOs of large companies, who had left this sort of thing to their tech support teams, were interested. 

When I was told that Enterprise would be turned into Digital Edge, I was not too thrilled, I have to admit. First, because I like stories, and although we had done our fair share of technology-related stories in Unlisted and Unlimited (our first cover story featured an advanced materials company and our second, an Internet of Things company back when people still didn’t know what IoT was), it was the story behind it, rather than the technology per se, that I loved writing (and reading) about.

But we had a young team of digital natives who lived, breathed and communicated in this ocean of tech and, hence, were extremely comfortable with the change. From the outset, we decided that Digital Edge would be a work in progress and we would be willing to try anything. If it worked, we would keep it. If not, we would throw it out. Thus, we slowly came to have weekly listicles, monthly (or maybe more than monthly) GeekSpeaks and a “What if?” column devoted to aspirational technology that sought to solve a current issue, Moonshot. (Isn’t that what Al Ries talked about in The Lean Startup?) If we had to write about technology, we were going to incorporate some of that mentality into how we functioned.

I knew I had a terrific team but, in preparation for this issue, when I looked back at the past year of covers (and other stories that they covered), I have to admit that I was blown away. The stories may have been tech-related, but the writers brought so much heart and passion to topics that ranged from data privacy to cybersecurity (a popular one since the pandemic struck and people started working from home), automation, keeping government agencies that give out technology grants accountable, climate change, the circular economy, intellectual property, high touch to low touch (through the clever use of technology) for industries such as makeup, as well as music, talent, algorithmic bias, digital accessibility, the dark web … you name it. The graphic designers, who were given a free hand to create something outside the conservative confines of The Edge, also need to be lauded for the covers they came up with. Seeing them all together at once made my heart skip a beat. Also the sub-editors, who are infinitely patient and supportive as we stumbled along, trying to find our way.

I like the fact that the writers are not afraid of delving into issues and asking tough questions about things that other people take for granted (like what’s behind the black box in certain government approvals). We lost some of them along the way (to Singapore, to scholarships, to job offers) but what can you expect, when others started to realise how awesome they were? We still get together on Zoom to play games (organised by the redoubtable Khairani Afifi Noordin who has crossed the Causeway but remains, very much, one of us) and I have learnt that I am terrible at drawing with a mouse or touchpad. But since this simply adds to the fun, it’s all good. It has been a good ride, but there’s a lot more to talk about and we’re not nearly done yet.

By Pathma Subramaniam

A friend had called in high dudgeon sometime early this year, furious that the government had overlooked the complications non-tech citizens faced as contact tracing and vaccine rollouts were done digitally.

For decades, my friend has remained an avowed Luddite when it comes to most smart technologies. Not that she is some anti-technology zealot. She still relies on the internet for work, has several email accounts and a landline, but that’s about it. (I think she got herself a feature phone last year as she lives alone and is fearful that she may not be able to reach the telephone in the event of an emergency, but we don’t speak about it.)

Frankly, at the time, I was rather exasperated. “Why bother?” I thought. The benefits of technology, after all, far outweighs the risks.

As a journalist who started her career in a contemporary online newsroom 15 years ago and operated in a strictly monitored mainstream media industry, the internet was the only hope as the ruling government had pledged to not censor the space in 1995.

Over the years, this unimpeachable faith in technology only became more formidable. It helped me and my colleagues work on exposés, offer checks and balances, present opposing views, provide room for dissenting views and challenge the status quo without the fear of retribution, and mostly level the playing field — all in the name of equality.

Or so I thought.

In June, I was reminded again of my friend’s frustration. I was working on an article on digital accessibility for the differently-abled, and for the first time, I understood the depth of her beliefs. Having that freedom to exercise her rights means she dictates what she wants from all-pervasive technologies, and not the reverse.

What we consider upgrades could threaten the existing way of life for people, on whom even the smallest of changes could have devastating consequences. Working on “Equality, a digital illusion” taught me that most people have little to no say in the development and deployment of smart tech.

I also realised how much of my life had been on “autopilot” mode and the extent to which I had allowed technology to make decisions for me since I started relying on it for efficiency and productivity. I noticed how many of my preferences, behaviours and habits had been shaped by a stealthily engineered digital network environment.

Then, there is the concern of privacy as governments are using technology increasingly to monitor and manage citizens. In Malaysia, where the likelihood of bloody conflict or violent riots have been near to nil, we have let down our guard by allowing information to be collected and used with little transparency.

In “The other side of tech”, my colleague explores the limits of the existing Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which restricts how personally identifying data may be distributed but is rarely enforced. Data collected by the federal government’s MySejahtera app — where users are required to “check in” at all places for easier contact tracing of infections — falls under the Official Secrets Act and the Penal Code.

While there is no doubt that these technologies are deployed for ostensibly good reasons, there is little transparency in how this information will be used to curtail any freedom we have left. A police state may be an extreme example, but the flow of personal and sometimes sensitive data, especially when it involves artificial intelligence (AI), is no laughing matter.

While doing the research for and writing “Programmed prejudice”, I could see the damaging effects of biased data fed into technologies that conduct credit scoring that could trap the underprivileged or predictive policing that result in over-policing in minority neighbourhoods. AI, for example, isn’t going to correct itself. On the contrary, such systems are only as good as the data being fed into them.

A year into writing about technology, I have noticed that I have subconsciously believed (and maybe, even hoped) that smart technology would fix every imperfection in our world. However, the reality is that no amount of big data, sensors, algorithms, AI and other related technologies offers deliverance. Instead, we have given up a lot of autonomy without much thought about the many contentious trade-offs and must find a way to adapt.

By Tan Zhai Yun

When I heard that we were going to write for Digital Edge, I was worried. I wasn’t very familiar with technology and I wasn’t sure how we could stand out from our competitors. There were already so many tech news websites out there. However, thanks to my editor’s openness, I felt that we had got the lay of the land and were on our way to finding our unique voice. 

Personally, I’ve been able to tackle huge themes that are close to my heart. Top of the list is how technology can help us mitigate climate change. I wrote about carbon capture technologies, self-sufficient neighbourhoods, e-waste, the circular economy for electric vehicle batteries and many other topics. We don’t have much time left to limit global warming to below 2°C and we are already seeing the effects of climate change. We need technology to help us ensure that our world remains liveable. We also need to make sure whatever new technologies are introduced are managed sustainably. I’m eager to explore what else is in store. 

Another theme that I pursued is the nurturing of tech talent in Malaysia. It is a common complaint that we don’t have enough talent and that technology courses at our universities are outdated. This is a critical theme to explore because as automation becomes more commonplace, we need to upskill and reskill our workforce so they don’t become irrelevant. Does everyone need to learn coding? Will we be replaced by robots? I’m excited to find answers to these questions and explore how we can equip our students to face the new future.

In a similar vein, I’ve been following the progress of automation in Malaysia. We’ve been talking about Industrial Revolution 4.0 for ages, but it is easier said than done. However, automation is needed if we want to increase our productivity, reduce our reliance on foreign labour and expand into high-value industries. I got to speak to companies offering automation solutions in Malaysia and those who have adopted automation in their factories. I want to continue sharing their insights and experiences.

Last but not least, I’m glad I still get to interview local entrepreneurs, as we did in Enterprise. We have so much talent in Malaysia and it’s such a loss if they are unable to spread their wings locally. What can be done to promote their growth, especially start-ups in the deep tech and science sectors? Let’s find out!

By Jotham Lim

I find the launch of Digital Edge timely considering the circumstances at the time. While the push towards digitalisation had been ongoing for many years, institutions were not giving it the priority it clearly deserved. Even at the onset of the pandemic, smaller companies prioritised cost-cutting measures over investments in technology — a decision they soon overturned after realising that technology is the gateway to economic survival, instead of being a hindrance. In this regard, I am happy to document many of these companies’ experiences as they transition from the analogue to the digital world. 

The great e-commerce migration, the death of the office workspace and the era of digital nomads. A few months into the pandemic, the fervour of anti-Covid digitalisation measures soon died down. And thus, such stories soon turned stale. As a writer, I turned towards stories that showed the bigger picture. What I found both excited me and filled me with great concern. The most severe of which is the rising number of ransomware cases. 

Cybercriminals are preying ruthlessly on government and private institutions. Even worse, they are setting their sights on vulnerable small businesses entering the digital space. Without adequate knowledge and resources to handle these attacks, many of them are left with no choice but to submit to the cybercriminals’ demands, digging themselves deeper into the meteoric crater they found themselves in that was left by the pandemic.

Not all news is dreary. Many local companies have found great opportunities in China, particularly those in the semiconductor industry. The tussle between the east and the west poses both opportunities and risks for nations such as Malaysia, which are somewhat stuck in the middle. Working on the China cover story (“Malaysian tech companies and the Alibaba effect”, May 10, 2021) has taught me the importance of nuance. On the one hand, disappearing billionaires and the crackdown on the Chinese financial technology (fintech) sector made me fear and respect the Chinese Communist Party’s might. Researching the subject also roused uncomfortable feelings as I had my principles centred around democracy and liberty. On the other hand, no love is lost on these fintech companies that hovered on aggressive and borderline irresponsible lending practices. 

On the home front, I stumbled upon knowledge gaps and holes in our national statistics while working on several stories. That led me down the rabbit hole of open government data — or rather, the lack thereof — in Malaysia. I was surprised to find that the country ranks as one of the lowest on the Global Open Data Index.

Working on these negative stories has frankly awakened a deep-seated anger within me — a dissatisfaction towards the national and global status we find ourselves in. Still, anger is much preferable over apathy, as many peers around me have succumbed to the hopelessness of the situation. At the very least, this anger can be channelled into positive action. Immersing myself in the world of open data eventually led me down a path to pursue my postgraduate studies in data science.

While working on these stories, the main goal is to educate and inform our readers on current digital-related affairs. However, I sincerely hope that our stories will also ignite a spark within our readers to affect change, no matter how small, within their personal and professional lives to move the needle towards a slightly brighter future.

By Vanessa Gomes

Since I was a little girl, I was taught to embrace and explore my creativity. Creative activities were always carried out in the household I grew up in, from doing educational arts and crafts to reading with colouring books. Creative expression was always encouraged and I always knew storytelling was my forte, even when I was in school.

Fast forward to a decade later when I joined The Edge. I had gathered experience in feature writing, news, lifestyle topics, web content creation and freelance copywriting. It was time to add business writing to the complement, although tech writing was never on my radar screen.

When the opportunity came to work on Digital Edge, I was excited, but worried. What did I know about tech, other than the latest iPhones and Samsung devices released every year? My love for writing kept me going and not long after, I found that I was pushing my limits to understand tough concepts to present it in simpler terms. Tech jargon isn’t easy to understand.

My toughest story (and which I am proudest of) was on hyperscale data centres. I took longer than usual to grasp the technologies and benefits that come with hyperscale, but after learning about its computing capabilities, it’s no wonder that Malaysia’s Digital Economy Blueprint (under the MyDIGITAL initiative) sought to bring more hyperscale players into the country. In hindsight, I’m glad to have done this story in the early days of Digital Edge as it set the pace (and foundational knowledge) for the rest of my stories. Deep tech is a crucial element in future tech innovations and it is needed in Malaysia to develop a strong digital foundation. 

I wondered what tech would look like in a creative setting, which was when I learnt about hyperpersonalisation. Mondelez India developed India’s first hyperpersonalised video advertisement for Cadbury Celebrations using geotagging and real-time location data. The advertisement leveraged AI to feature small and medium enterprises that were closest to the viewer based on specific pin codes (postcodes) in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Indore, Ahmedabad and Lucknow. The aim was to provide businesses with exposure to help them survive the pandemic, as it reached out to more than 1,800 local retailers across more than 260 pin codes, whose businesses were promoted locally through the Cadbury Celebrations ad.

As a mass communications graduate, I was deeply fascinated by how the symbiotic relationship between creative advertising concepts and data is able to target the right content at the right user, resulting in better user engagement. Social media algorithms tend to work in a similar fashion, albeit in a more elementary way, which is why a large chunk of my feed is made up of Harry Potter content!

Am I afraid of data after learning more about how it is used? Not at all. In fact, I understand it better now and I’m more conscious of my digital activities, where my data goes and how it will be used by websites. As Mad-Eye Moody would say, “Constant vigilance!” After all, data is the world’s most valuable commodity.

By Khairani Afifi Noordin

When I heard that the Enterprise pullout would be turned into Digital Edge, I was excited. I thought about the kind of stories we could be writing about, ahead of the curve. I felt the thrill even though I knew my days were numbered — sorry about being dramatic, but back then, I was already preparing for my move to Singapore. Because of that, I only managed to write for Digital Edge for a few months, until January this year. 

I remember one of the earliest stories I did for Digital Edge. Around this time last year, I was speaking to a few cybersecurity professionals about Capture The Flag (CTF), an information security competition. Working on this story opened my eyes to how gamification is playing a bigger role in professional development. Cybersecurity professionals play CTF to apply what they have learnt and sharpen their skills to better handle malicious attacks. On the other hand, the only game I had played that had anything to do with my career was a typing test. Not to toot my own horn, but I scored 70 words per minute, compared with the average of 36!

In another story we did in collaboration with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, I spoke to some of the local digital creative industry players. I had done a separate story on the local video gaming industry prior to this and it made me realise that the issues these players faced were similar — funding is hard to come by as they are considered high risk by banks. 

This is very unfortunate to hear as we do have some of the best digital creative studios in the world. Upin & Ipin is a household name in Malaysia and Indonesia, the BoBoiBoy Movie 2 was one of the country’s top grossing feature films and LemonSky Studios continues to produce 3D animations that meet the standards of the world’s biggest animation studios.

You may have seen a pattern in these stories I mentioned — yes, I love writing about games and creative industries. You probably won’t catch me after working hours because I will be locked in my room watching an animated show or playing video games until the wee hours. But I didn’t just write about creativity. What is life without a little colour? I worked on “Colour me digital”, a cover story I did for Digital Edge’s Dec 14, 2020, issue. At the time, a lot of cosmetics companies worldwide were suffering as a result of the pandemic. People were no longer going out as often, makeup testers were no longer available and there are now filters on video conferencing platforms that help to enhance one’s features during virtual meetings. 

All this leads to the question I wanted an answer to — how did local cosmetics companies cope with the pandemic-induced challenges? After speaking to three entrepreneurs, I found that they were actually going strong, thanks to their technological savvy. They knew that a good digital marketing strategy is key: experiment with different social media content, determine the best time to get the most eyeballs and analyse which platforms would provide them with the best sales leads. They also ensured that they have robust and seamless online platforms to facilitate an easy purchasing process. 

It has been an entire year since I have spoken to all these people and I wish them the best and hope they continue to thrive in their respective industries. 

I also hope my former colleagues and forever friends at Digital Edge continue to do great reporting as they always have.