KUALA LUMPUR: Bangi member of parliament Syahredzan Johan today shared a humbling experience with the Dewan Rakyat from a programme he organised with a non-governmental organisation to provide free spectacles to students in his constituency.
"There was a student, around 13 or 14 years old. When I handed her the glasses and placed them on her face, I saw her eyes light up with wonder and joy.
"It turned out this child had never owned a pair of glasses before. Just think about it, after years of schooling she was finally receiving glasses for the very first time.
"For many of us in this house, glasses are something we often take for granted. I don't wear glasses, but if I wanted to buy, I could easily do so.
"But for that child, who comes from a less fortunate family, glasses were not just a luxury; they were a distant dream. When every day is a struggle to make ends meet, purchasing something as simple as glasses feels impossible.
"This experience was a wake-up call for me. It reminded me why we are here, why I am here, not for status or wealth, but to bring positive change for the people and the nation.
"I entered politics to help others. Alhamdulillah, Allah has given me this opportunity," he shared when debating the 2025 Supply Bill.
Later in his debate, Syahredzan touched on the development of local games and AI technology.
"Several games have been created in Malaysia, like Gigabash and No Straight Roads, and a new game, Mastra, is being developed by Todak Studios.
"I was informed that the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation funds local game developers. However, government support should go beyond just financial aid.
"The government should also support the marketing of completed games. The government can play a role in showcasing locally developed games as a testament to the capabilities of local developers," he said, proposing partnerships with data centres in Malaysia to offer special subscription rates for cloud storage services to these local game developers.
Regarding AI, he stressed the need to balance its use with laws, ethics and its effects on jobs.
He raised concerns about the impact of AI-generated content on graphic designers, radio presenters and news readers, calling for careful consideration of these issues.
Syahredzan also reminded the government to not be overly eager to use AI-generated images in official graphics.
"It is important to continue providing opportunities for artists and graphic designers, there is still value in maintaining the human touch in graphic design."