Digital Malaysia to transform economy

thesun 20 October 2011 - 05:26am
Last updated on 20 October 2011 - 04:34pm

Najib (2nd, right) speaks to MDec CEO Datuk Badlisham Ghazali (right) before he chairs the IAP MSC meeting. Also seen in the background is Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili. BERNAMA

PUTRAJAYA (Oct 19, 2011): The government aims to increase the contribution of high-value, knowledge-driven digital initiatives from the current level of 12.5% of the Gross National Income (GNI) to 17% or over RM294 billion by 2020.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said this could be done with the adoption of the Digital Transformation Programme, called Digital Malaysia, one of the key components of the National Transformation Policy.
He said Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), mandated to spearhead the initiative, has assured that the implementation of the first projects under Digital Malaysia will begin in the first quarter of 2012.
“We started with the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), we followed with the New Economic Model, the Strategic Reform Initiatives and the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).
“Then, we have the Political Transformation Programme, followed by the Rural Transformation Programme, and Digital Malaysia will complete the national agenda leading to 2020,” he said, after chairing the 23rd Implementation Council Meeting and the 14th MSC Malaysia International Advisory Panel (IAP), at his office today.
On the RM294 billion target, he said RM75 billion will be from the digital transformation initiatives, RM93 billion from the existing information communications technology (ICT) initiatives and RM126 billion is expected to be garnered from the ICT initiatives in the ETP and GTP.
Najib said part of Digital Malaysia will include strong emphasis on two major trusts – innovation and creativity, and productivity.
On the aspirational goals, he said, in terms of (ICT) contribution to GNI, currently it is at 9.8% and the government hopes to achieve 17% by 2020.
“In terms of Digital Economy Rankings, we are now 36th out of 70 countries but by 2020 we hope to be in the top 20.
“In terms of IMD World Competitiveness Scoreboard, we are ranked 16th out of 59 nations and we hope to be in top 10 by 2020,” Najib said.
The premier also said Malaysia needs a solid push and clear framework to build a digital economy which will be an important enabler for the country’s transformation.
“As a nation, we are entering a crucial phase as we are now firmly into the decade in which we much achieve our goal. It is undeniable that the next wave of economic growth will come from the knowledge-based economy, with digital technologies as a key driver of progress,” he said.
Najib said the new world is a digital one and in order to stay competitive and reap its benefits, it is imperative that Malaysia has all the right elements and strategies put in place.

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Also participating was Deputy Mosti Minister YB Datuk Fadilah Yusuf