Lee King Sing: AI Should Be an Assistive Tool, Academic Competitions Help Strengthen Thinking

(Miri, 19th) Sarawak Minister of Transport and Permanent Honorary Advisor of the Miri Teochew Association, Dato' Sri Lee King Sing, stated that in the era of rapid development of artificial intelligence, although technology brings convenience to learning and life, it should not be overly relied upon. Instead, greater emphasis should be placed on human thinking abilities, creativity, and emotional expression.

He was originally scheduled to attend and speak at the opening ceremony of the “2026 Malaysia National Academic Competition Miri Regional Selection” this morning, organized by the Miri Teochew Association Youth League at Miri Chung Hua (National Type) Middle School (Miri Middle School), and hosted by the Malaysian Federation of Teochew Associations Youth League. However, due to work commitments, he was unable to attend and was represented by Tiamunkong Yang Huisheng, who delivered a speech on his behalf.

In his speech, Lee King Sing first thanked the organizers for the invitation and affirmed the Youth League's long-term efforts in providing a platform for students to showcase their talents, making important contributions to the inheritance of Chinese culture. He also expressed his gratitude to student participants, guiding teachers, and parents, believing that it is through the joint efforts of all parties that such cultural and academic activities can continue to develop and flourish.

He said that this competition covers Chinese hard-pen calligraphy, Chinese calligraphy, essay/composition, and art competitions. It is not only a contest, but an important cultural platform for the younger generation to demonstrate their talents and confidence.

He pointed out that with the widespread application of artificial intelligence, people find it more convenient to collect information, support writing, and communicate, but at the same time, there are fewer opportunities to write by hand, leading even to the phenomenon of being able to recognize but not write certain characters.

He also mentioned that in the field of creation, excessive reliance on AI-generated content may weaken independent thinking and expression abilities. Therefore, AI should be regarded as an assistive tool, not a dominant one.

He said that for this reason, calligraphy, composition, and art competitions are even more important, as they can guide students to write attentively, think deeply, and create freely, re-establishing the connection between people, words, and thought.

He emphasized that calligraphy demonstrates focus and patience and is a treasure of Chinese culture; composition cultivates observation and expression skills, which are vital for future development; and art, through color and lines, showcases creativity, which is one of the essential abilities in future society.

Lee King Sing is encouraged by the enthusiastic participation of many students, believing that this shows the solid development of Chinese education in society and also reflects the importance parents and teachers place on students' holistic development.

He encouraged students to approach the competition with a calm mind, value the process of learning and growth, and pointed out that the effort, confidence, and courage shown during preparations are the most precious gains.

He also pointed out that as a multicultural society, Sarawak not only preserves its own culture, but also respects the cultures of other ethnicities—this diversity and inclusiveness is society's most valuable asset.

He stressed that youth are the future of the nation and the hope of society. They should continually maintain their enthusiasm for learning, persevere in thinking, be courageous in expressing themselves, never forget their cultural roots, and shoulder the responsibility of cultural heritage.