October 2015

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Desktop PublishingKhairuazhar Sahabudin

Staff ContributorsDr. Khairuddin OthmanAzmir HusniFloy YapLai Jia Weng (Carmen)Geeta Dass

VOICE is a newsletter produced by the Faculty of Communication.

HELP University Sdn Bhd (84963-D), ELM Business School

No. 15, Jalan Sri Semantan 1,Off Jalan Semantan,

Bukit Damansara50490 Kuala Lumpur

Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges:Unexpected love for Durian

As part of the initiative to promote cross-cultural friendships

among the diversified community in HELP University, the Faculty of Communication invited Senior Lecturer Dr. Edmund Kellerman of University of Florida, United States, to deliver a talk titled ‘Cross Cultural Communication: Building Bridges’ on 16 October 2015. “Intercultural communication is an exchange of symbols from different backgrounds that needs translation in order to understand each other,” explained Dr. Kellerman, who stirred the crowd into continuous laughter by sharing his adventures in Malaysia, among which was his unexpected love for Durian. He added that in order to blend into an unfamiliar community, one needs to learn its social norms and communication style – both verbal and non-verbal. “Don’t just stay home, get out, join an organization and have fun,” Dr. Kellerman further emphasized. Dr. Kellerman served in Malaysia as a Peace Corps Volunteer, working

as a speech therapist and audiologist at Kuala Lumpur General Hospital from 1977 to 1979, where he met his Malaysian wife in 1978. “Love, love, and love,” was Dr. Kellerman’s concluding remark. “Diversity and meeting people are good exposures. The key is to love,” he expressed. “Over the past decade, the country had become the fastest growing destination for international students, attracting an annual increase of over 16% and it is expected to continue growing. Therefore, it is extremely important to promote intercultural friendships among the various groups of different ethnicity, nationality, and so on,” said Azmir Husni, the Faculty’s Head of Department. “In line with this, the Faculty has initiated various efforts to celebrate and incorporate diversity to enrich learning experience; this talk is one of it. Various platforms and student projects have also been launched. More to come,” he expressed excitedly.

Dr. Edmund Kellerman sharing his unexpected experiences when he first arrived in Malaysia 38 years ago.

By Nur Alyah Saiful Ahmad, Ashwinniie Raja Sekeran, Jace Wong, Lee Soo Junn, Ng Chian Li, Dymitra Jothiahnantham, and Kyra Khaleeda Abdul Khalil

In a statement released recently, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said 36 Malaysian companies would participate in the 118th installment of the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) Autumn Session from Oct 31 to Nov 4, 2015 in Guangzhou, China to improve the telecommunication infrastructure, via an allocation of RM1.2 billion under the 2016 Budget, including upgrading internet speed in the rural areas to 20 megabits per second, national fibre backbone infrastructure, high speed broadband and submarine cable systems. Martrade is actively advances the Malaysian firms to participate in the global trade fairs. This will give exposures to Malaysian firms to compete in the global markets. - Bernama online, 27 October 2015.

36 Malaysian firms in Canton Fair

NewsPage 2

► Microsoft launches Surface Book. Technology firm, Microsoft introduced to the consumer market on 27 October 2015 its laptop in which the hardware and software is entirely made by the company. Called Surface Book, and currently available on Microsoft online store and Amazon, its retail price is US$1,499. Except for its price, industry reviews for the Surface Book have been positive, especially on the display touchpad, battery life, and keyboard (that can be separated and turn into a tablet).- Antonio Villas-Boas, Tech Insider, 27 October 2015. ► CBS, NBC available on Apple TV. Apple announced in mid-October that television networks CBS and NBC had joined the Apple TV line-up. In all, Apple TV has the top four broadcast

networks (together with ABC and Fox TV), including PBS (Public Broadcast Service).- Tech Insider, 27 October 2015.

► Malaysia, China trade to rise RM455.4 billion in 2015. Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) expects total trade between Malaysia and China to increase to RM455.4 billion this year from RM411.7 billion last year.- The Sun, 13 October 2015, p. 17.

► MCMC builds over 900 telecom-munication towers up to September. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has built 993 telecommunication towers up to last September to bridge the digital gap and increase access to telecommunications service, especially in areas with limited or no coverage. For the same period, over 300 km of fibre optic network,

597 1Malaysia Internet Centres and 4,712 WiFi community hotspots were built. MCMC wants to improve the telecommunication infrastructure, via an allocation of RM1.2 billion under the 2016 Budget, including upgrading internet speed in the rural areas to 20 megabits per second, national fibre backbone infrastructure, high speed broadband and submarine cable systems.- Bernama online, 27 October 2015

► TPPA credit positive for Malaysia. Rating agency, Moody’s Investors Service, says the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is credit positive (A3 positive) for Malaysia, including 11 other participating nations. The free trade agreement will reduce the cost of trade and open up new investment opportunities, supporting growth, it said in a statement on 12 October 2015.- The Sun, 13 October 2015, p. 16.

News Bites:News that you can use

If a hacker hijacks your computer with malware and holds your data for ransom, it’s probably best to just pay up, at

least that’s the latest advice the FBI is giving out concerning ransomware. Reported last week by Security Ledger, Joseph Bonavolonta, the Assistant Special Agent who oversees the FBI’s CYBER and Counterintelligence Program in Boston, spoke at the 2015 Cyber Security Summit and advised that companies infected with ransomware may want to give in to the criminal’s demands. “The ransomware is that good,” Bonavolonta explained to an audience of business and technology leaders. “To be honest, we often advise people just to pay the ransom.” Ransomware is a malicious software that takes over a victim’s hard drive when they click on an infected advertisement, email, attachment, or website and encrypts the contents of a device — and any other connected electronics — which the hacker then demands bitcoin or cryptocurrency payments to unlock.

The key to unencrypt data can cost victims anywhere from $US200 and $US10,000 and affects individuals and businesses alike. Even the police are not immune to the attacks. Cryptowall alone — currently the most prevalent malicious software used — made hackers over $US18 million from April 2014 to June 2015. “The amount of money made by these criminals is enormous and that’s because the overwhelming majority of institutions just pay the ransom,” Bonavolonta said. Adding that the Bureau and other’s efforts have yet to yield a solution. In an ironic twist, the large amount of people paying the ransom actually seems to be keeping the amount demanded low. And while supporting this sort-of ransomware economy may seem backwards, attackers appear maximise their profits through volume and most keep their word that you will “get your access back,” Bonavolonta said. However, not everyone would agree with Bonavolonta’s advice though. - Tess Danielson, Tech Insider, 27 October 2015.

FBI recommends we pay up if hackers infect our computer with ransomware

Image by Corbis Images

NewsPage 3

Ben Bawden explaining what are the creative industries.

Ben stressing on high creative input in a TV production.

The truth aboutcreative careersBen Bawden, International and Development Manager

from the Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology visited the Faculty of Communication recently to give a talk on the truth about creative careers “The creative industries provide freedom, possibility, originality and innovation” says Ben. The world exports of creative goods in the year 2011 was US$ 450 billion (UNCTAD, based on official data in UN COMTRADE database). Within the creative industries, content creation is the main element in the media industry. Advertising, news writing and reporting, photojournalism, TV series and movies are a few examples where the need for creative content creator are forever in demand. Ben’s explaination had flickered students’ interest and motivation to pursue a career in the creative industries. Many were inspired to become a succesful writer, photographer and film producer in the future. “I want to be like the late Akira Kurosawa, one of the greatest Japanese filmmaker.” says Takaaki Nagasaki, a year one student from Japan majoring in Media Studies. QUT and HELP University has been in academic bilateral partnership to ensure quality education.

Film your way toSundanceFilm Festival 2016

Astro Circle through Audience Motivation Company Asia (AMCA) is currently promoting the Sundance Short Film

Competition 2015. Mr. MJ Pang, Account Co-ordinator for the competition gave briefing to the Faculty of Communication students on how to enter the competition. The briefing was to give ideas to students on how to win the competition. Mr. Pang advised that the production of the short film was as important as the storyline so students wishing to participate in the competition should give their best. Sundance Film Festival was founded by actor and film director Robert Redford in 1985 to help promote independent filmmakers annually. During the festival there will be screenings of dramatic and documentary films, shorts, New Frontier film and performances. There are also panel discussions, and dynamic music events. Since its inception,the Festival continues to get more people to see and appreciate the most authentic and creative storytelling. Submisison period is between 15th September 2015 to 23rd November 2015. For more details and the occifial rules, visit: www.astrocircle.com.my

Mr. Pang, Account Co-ordinator for Sundance Short Film Competition 2015 explaining the entry requirements.

Students listening attentively to the briefing.

Snapshots Page 4

Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

Jace Wong (Diploma in Comm) posting her question to Dr. Kellerman.The speaker had the audience in stitches during the Q&A session.

Student participating in the demonstration by Dr. Kellerman.

MC May introducing the guest and the speaker to the audience. Dr. Kellerman sharing his experiences when he served in Malaysia as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Dr. Kellerman giving an example about building bridges in communication.

Photos by AZMIR HUSNI