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2011/ VOL 06COMPLIMENTARY FROM MSTBCOVER STORY.Great opportunities ahead: YB Datuk Haji Fadillah delivering his Opening Speech at STST 2011 on October 27Significant Opportunities in Software TestingThe software testing market presents anabundance of business prospects andplayers must get their act together to be ableto make the most of these opportunities.With a national initiative to develop theindustry already in place, Malaysia iswell-poised to establish itself as a significantplayer in the global arena.Deputy Minister of Science, Technology andInnovation YB Datuk Haji Fadillah Haji Yusofsaid market projections are indicating thatthe global software testing services marketwill be growing at a steady rate over the nextfew years.In addition to that, the nature of softwaretesting which is applicable and relevantacross all segments of society and sectorswill certainly be a critical enabler to supportour economic growth and transformation.“Undoubtedly, software testing can contributetowards improving product quality,operational efficiency and profitability fororganisations and increase our globalcompetitiveness.”There are great opportunities for us tomake economic gains provided we get ouract togethe, and the Malaysia SoftwareTesting Hub (MSTH) initiative was inceptedto help achieve these objectives,” he said inhis official opening speech at the SoftwareTesting Straight Talk 2011 (STST 2011) inKuala Lumpur on October 27.The one-and-a-half day event was organisedby the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of thePrime Minister’s Department, in collaborationwith the Malaysian Software Testing Board(MSTB).Introduced in 2010, STST is a national-levelforum which provides updates on developmentof the Malaysian software testing industry.At the same time, the forum seeks inputfrom participants on issues crucial to thegrowth of Malaysia’s software testing industry.Outcomes from discussions at STST will betaken as input in the formulation of futuredevelopment programmes under the MSTHinitiative.• At STST 2011 - Page 2 • Training @ Q Lab - Page 3 • Pilot Adoption of CTFL Syllabus - Page 4KUALA LUMPUR. 10 th - 12 th JULY 2012

2BUGFREE / 2011 / VOL 06STST 2011Successful Conclusion of STST 2011 ForumThe Software Testing Straight Talk (STST) 2011concluded on a high note on October 28, 2011with clear indications of improved awarenesson the importance and relevance of softwaretesting and software quality assurance forbetter performance and improved gains byorganisations across industries.Delegates from various industry backgroundsparticipated actively in the workgroup breakoutsessions and put forth a collective list ofrecommendations identified as crucial for thedevelopment of Malaysia’s fledging softwaretesting industry.The recommendations cover four main areasof Policy and Governance, Human CapitalDevelopment, Stimulating Demand andGuaranteeing Supply. These suggestions willbe analysed further and expanded on, ifnecessary, before being channelled as input toenhancement of existing programmes as wellas formulation of new programmes to develop the industry under theMalaysia Software Testing Hub (MSTH) initiative.Leading the discussion: MSTB Director Michael Cornelius (standing) engaging participants at the ‘Stimulating Demand’breakout trackDr. Robin Poston presented a paper on Software Testing as aFoundation for Operational and Business Efficiency.The forum featured two invited international speakers from Universityof Memphis, USA. Professor Dr Jasbir Dhaliwal spoke on the topics ofLeveraging Academia-Industry Collaboration for Software TestingInnovations and Grooming Competent Industry Professionals whileAbout 300 delegates from the public, private and academic sectorstook part in STST 2011, which was organised by the EconomicPlanning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister’s Department, in collaborationwith the Malaysian Software Testing Board (MSTB).Intellectual discourse: The STST 2011 Discussion Panel comprising (from left) Professor Dr Jasbir Dhaliwal, Skali Group’s Tengku Farith Tengku Rithauddeen, MAMPU’s Dr. Azizah Manan, DrRobin Poston and session chair Michael CorneliusStraight talking: Professor DrDhaliwal expressinga point during his keynote addressAttentive crowd: Participants of forum listening to the keynoteaddressesSharing ideas: Discussion in progress during STST 2011breakout session

3BUGFREE / 2011 / VOL 06PRESIDENT’S NOTEPromising Pilot Run with the Magnificent 7The pilot implementation of the ISTQB’s CTFL syllabus in sevenuniversities across the country has begun. A total of 320 undergraduatestudents in the software engineering discipline at theseuniversities, which I like to call the Magnificent 7, are expected tobe involved over the current and next semesters. Taking thecertification exam is optional but I am hopeful that all thesestudents will, at the end of their courses, rise up to the challenge.While the full impact of the pilot programme may only beascertained a year from now, the programme is already showingsome positive impacts, albeit outside of its intended scope.It appears that getting the project off the ground is an achievementby itself. As described by Professor Dr. Zarida Hambali,Director of the Academic Development Management Division,Department of Higher Education(Jabatan Pengajian Tinggi - JPT);the project is a significant in the sense that project involvescooperation of multiple parties. It demonstares the collaborativeefforts to realise the intent.Other than the seven universities and MSTB, the project alsoinvolved the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), the Ministry ofHigher Education and the JPT, the ICT Dean Council (MaDICT)and the international partner, theGerman Testing Board (GTB).Indeed it was not easy to get projectstarted – it took more than a year andcountless discussions and meetings toget to this stage.Meanwhile, at a workshop session toreview of the course materials, whichwas developed by the GTB, one particulardevelopment caught my attention.The lecturers were organising themselves into a small Community ofPractice with the intent of continuous collaboration to share knowledgeand to develop tools that would be of benefit to all. The lecturersthemselves attested that this was the first time for them, beingattached to different universities, to find a platform to work togetherfor common benefits.We did not plan for this but it is indeed a good thing. I believethrough sharing of knowledge and experience, a lot more can beachieved. On MSTB’s part, we’ll do all that we can to facilitate. Q LabHectic Training Schedule for Q LabIt has been a busy period at the Q Labover the last three months with a seriesof training and professional consultancysessions lined up for various teams.In August, a team went through TestingMaturity Model integrated (TMMi)training and assessment sessions whileanother group attended a five-daytraining on IBM Rational DOORS.Briefing and consultancy sessions on ISO29119 Software Testing standard wereheld in September. The sessions werehelmed by Testing Group Solution’sStuart Reid, who is also the convener forthe ISO 29119 working group.A two-week training on processes by theKorea Testing Lab (KTL) was held fromOctober 19 to November 4. The trainingwas one of the tracks included theNational Product Certification schemeinitiative.AROUND THE GLOBEExpelled for Public“Demo” on OS FlawCharlie Miller, a researcher with Accuvant Labs,might have had a good intention with his publicshowing of exploitation of a flaw found in Apple’siOS operating system. Unfortunately, Apple doesnot take kindly to that and unceremoniouslydropped Miller from its developers programme.Reuters reported that Apple had sent an email toMiller sent late on Monday (Nov 7, 2011) that it wasrevoking his rights to develop iOS software for theiPhone and iPad, and would no longer distributehis programs through the App Store.According to reports, Miller disclosed that he hadfigured out a way to build apps that can secretlydownload other programs that are capable ofstealing data, sending text messages or destroyinginformation.Jaguar recalls cars oversoftware faultOnline news channel Computer News Middle Eastreported (on October 25, 2011) that Jaguar hasrecalled nearly 18,000 X-type cars after it discovereda major software fault, which might causedrivers not be able to turn off the cruise-controlfunction.Enhancing skills: Training in progress for the Q Lab teamThe report said the problem lies with enginemanagement control software developedin-house by Jaguar. The problematic software isonly installed on diesel engine X-Types, whichwere all produced between 2006 and 2010.

4BUGFREE / 2011 / VOL 06Academia OutreachSeven Universities in ISTQB Syllabus Adoption PilotThe Malaysian Software Testing Board(MSTB) and participants of the pilot implementationof the adoption of InternationalSoftware Testing Qualifications Board(ISTQB)-compliant software testingsyllabus for professional certification bylocal universities have formalised theircollaboration with an exchange of memorandumof Agreement (MOA) ceremony inKuala Lumpur on October 27, 2011.The ceremony was held in conjunction ofthe Official Opening of the SoftwareTesting Straight Talk 2011 by DeputyMinister of Science, Technology andInnovation YB Datuk Haji Fadillah HajiYusof. Also stood witness to the occasionwas Professor Dr. Zarida Hambali, Directorof the Academic Development ManagementDivision, the Department of HigherEducation (Jabatan Pengajian Tinggi).Seven universities are participating in thepilot programme and they are UniversitiMalaysia Pahang UMP), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS),Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM),Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Tun HusseinOnn Malaysia (UTHM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).Four of the universities have already started the programme in thecurrent semester while the remaining three will follow suit in the nextsemester starting in February 2012.Under the Pilot implementation, participating universities wouldenhance their existing sofwtare engineering courses with a subjectOne for the album: From left are Dr. Roslan Ismail (UNITEN), Prof. Dr. Mohd Aizaini Maarof (UTM), Tan Ping Ping (UNIMAS), Prof.Dr. Zarida, YB Datuk Haji Fadillah, Director of K-Economy, EPU Azizah Hamzah, Mastura, Assoc. Prof. Dr Jasni Mohamad Zain(UMP) and Dr. Kamal Zuhairi Zamli (USM)based on ISTQB’s Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) syllabus.Participating universities are supplied with course materials developedby German Testing Board (GTB). The ISTQB-compliant coursematerials are being used in universities across Germany. The GTB isalso extending professional supports on their materials.The addition of this professional certification-leaning syllabus in theMalaysia’s universities is one of the programmes planned under theMalaysia Software Testing Hub (MSTH) initiative to ensure a sustainablesupply of competent software testing professionals to supportthe anticipated growth of the software testing industry.Lecturers Get TheirCTFL CertificationSeven lecturers from universities participating in the pilot implementationof the adoption of International Software Testing QualificationsBoard (ISTQB) software testing syllabus earned their Certified TesterFoundation Level (CTFL) after passing the examination held onOctober 26.The examination as well as four-day training that came prior to it werespecially arranged for the lecturers who are directly involved in teachingof the software testing subject.Certified: Partipants of the special CTFL training and examination session for lecturers posefor the camera with their trainer Ravindran Selvaraj (seated, second from left)EDITORIAL BOARDUnder the pilot project, lecturers who are involved in teaching thesubject are required to have foundation level certification and theyare encouraged to go for the adanced level certification (CTAL).Editor-in-Chief: Mastura Abu SamahTechnical Advisor: Amiruddin Jaafar SidekEditor: A. Shukor RahmanCreative Director: Badrulhisyam Abu BakarEditorial Contact: bugfree@mstb.orgMalaysian Software Testing Board (MSTB) (822609-W)A member of International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB)Lot G-2, Jalan Kenari 12B,Bandar Puchong Jaya,47100 Puchong,Selangor Darul EhsanTel: +603-80763579 Fax: +603-80750334