Digital Malaysia to add RM75b by 2020

2011/10/20

By Farrah Naz Karim
farrah@nst.com.my

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak talking to (from left) Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Multimedia Development Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin before the 23rd MSC Malaysia Implementation Council Meeting at Bagunan Perdana Putra in Putrajaya. — Bernama picture

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will embark on a digital transformation programme, Digital Malaysia, which will rank as one of the key components in the country's transformation policy.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the initiative to transform the economy into a digital one followed other segments of the country's transformation plans, including the Government Transformation Plan, New Economic Model, Economic Transformation Programme as well as the Rural Transformation Programme and would complete the National Agenda leading to Vision 2020.

Najib said with the target set for Digital Malaysia to contribute RM75 billion to the gross national income by 2020, together with the RM93 billion to be generated from information, communication and technology initiatives as well as the estimated RM126 billion to be extracted from ICT projects under the GTP and ETP, the contribution by ICT initiatives to the country's GNI is targeted to reach RM294 billion by 2020.

Speaking at the conclusion of the 14th MSC Malaysia International Advisory (MIAP) panel here yesterday, Najib said Digital Malaysia, which would be spearheaded by Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) would emphasise on innovation as well as creativity and productivity as its two major thrusts. Malaysia, Najib said, hoped to increase its ICT contribution to the GNI, which is at 9.8 per cent to 17 per cent by 2020.

Najib, who is chair to the MIAP, said the meeting also discussed the need to unleash the entrepreneurial capacity in each individual as well as to ensure that the ecosystem and culture allowed for the flourishing of entrepreneurial skill and spirit in the country.

Members of the MIAP, he said, also discussed the need to ensure innovation and creative thinking skills were nurtured through the education system as well as encourage the young to become entrepreneurial. On other matters, Najib said Malaysia was looking at converting some 300 intellectual properties developed by local universities.

Earlier in his opening remarks, at the 23rd MSC Malaysia Implementation Council Meeting, also held here, Najib said it was undeniable that the next wave of economic growth would come from the knowledge-based economy, with digital technologies as a key driver.

Present at the meetings were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Science Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

Source: New Straits Time October 20, 2011