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Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR.
MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : CYBER VIEW LODGE
Tarikh/Date : 08/07/99
Tajuk/Title : THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF CYBERJAYA
Terlebih dahulu, saya mengucapkan terima kasih
pada pihak penganjur kerana menjemput saya untuk
merasmikan pembukaan Cyberjaya pada hari ini.
Sesungguhnya, ini adalah satu lembaran sejarah bagi
kita kerana ianya melambangkan satu langkah penting
bagi merealisasikan visi kita untuk mewujudkan sebuah
ekonomi dan masyarakat bermaklumat. Ianya juga pasti
memainkan peranan penting dalam membentuk kewibawaan
dan kemampuan generasi yang akan datang untuk bersaing
dalam arena global.
2. May I first welcome members of the MSC
International Advisory Panel (IAP) who have come from
all over the world to be with us today on this historic
occasion. The presence of so many of the world's
corporate leaders and leading thinkers in the IT and
communications industries greatly encourages all
Malaysians as we continue to build the MSC. We are
heartened by your willingness to take some time off
your busy schedules to collaborate and network with us.
Your presence today will spur on the MSC initiative
which will both contribute to the development of the
global IT & multimedia community and help propel the
region into the Information Age.
3. Less than three years ago, Malaysia set out to
pursue its MSC vision as a strategy to catalyse the
orderly transition of our economy and society into the
Information Age. Just over two years ago, we broke
ground here in Cyberjaya to set the foundation for one
of the world's first intelligent cities and the nerve
centre of the MSC. Our progress to this stage clearly
proves our ability to develop the physical
infrastructure and infostructure of the MSC at a very
rapid pace. We must now work even harder to build
further on the progress achieved on all the other
components of the MSC Bill of Guarantees to create the
ideal environment for investors in the MSC, especially
here in Cyberjaya.
4. Any large and pioneering initiative will have its
share of detractors and cynics. However, our success to
date speaks for itself. Most importantly, there are
already 32 world-class web shapers who have obtained
MSC status, many of them as regional initiatives.
Compared to our target of 50 by 2003, we are clearly
ahead of schedule; already some 285 companies have
applied for MSC status and 225 have obtained it. We
accelerated our move into Cyberjaya to 1997 when the
MSC headquarters was established here. This was a year
ahead of schedule. Already some 21 companies including
eight MSC status companies are located here in
Cyberjaya. Among them is the NTT-MSC Center - NTT's
second largest outside Japan. We already have in place
an R & D grant scheme, as well as venture capital and
marketing support for small and medium scale
enterprises. These measures have already contributed
to a number of enterprises born and bred in the MSC who
are exporting globally as well as supporting the web
shapers.
5. By any measure, the MSC has come a long way in
pursuing its mission, in particular from the viewpoint
of attracting investors' response. We must continue to
innovate and be even more responsive to investors to
attract knowledge from around the world to help create
the vibrant, creative, networked society here in
Cyberjaya. Given its potential and importance,
Malaysia has designated MSC as its next engine of
growth. Even during the recent downturn, the MSC was
given priority in terms of both budget allocation and
policy support. I would like to reiterate the
Government's full commitment toward ensuring the
continued progress of the development of Cyberjaya
on a fast-track basis. Malaysians by and large know
that the MSC represents their future and thus support
and participation in this venture has permeated the
whole society.
6. Whilst a few aspects of the MSC have been
questioned, almost everyone lauds the MSC as a thrust
area for sustainable growth. Our comprehensive and
integrated strategy has attracted various world
statesmen and business leaders who have personally
visited Cyberjaya to witness the MSC experiment. The
MSC, as a catalyst for growth and global test-bedding,
has also spawned numerous similar initiatives around
the globe. However, we do not view them as competitors
but more as opportunities for networking and
collaboration. We have started to build bridges with
these initiatives and together hope to overcome the
myriad of cross-border issues coming in the wake of the
Information Age. Through such collaboration and
networking we can help mankind achieve its ultimate
vision of peace and prosperity through a knowledge-
based society.
7. Over the recent past, I have been blessed with
the opportunity to be part of Malaysia's growth -
seeing its transformation from an agricultural-based
economy to one focussed on manufacturing. A key
success factor in this progress was our emphasis on
becoming globally competitive by creating a conducive
business environment. Indeed our oil palm industry, as
represented by the palms which you still see around us,
still continues to lead the world. This tradition of
global competitiveness continued into our
industrialisation phase so much so that today, we are
the world's largest exporter of microchips. It will
also continue through the third phase of our
development as we capitalise on the opportunities of
the Information Age. Thus the MSC initiative will carry
the Malaysian success story of growth and stability
well into the next Millennium.
8. Our continued commitment towards developing the
MSC and multimedia industry in general for the long
term, is vindicated by the latest statistics coming
from around the world. In the U.S., for instance,
statistics indicate that although the high technology
services sector accounted for only 5.5 percent of
American GDP in 1997, it produced almost 40 per cent of
GDP growth over the preceding two years. The
Internet's growth and its global reach is opening up
almost endless possibilities for e-government, e-
business and edutainment. It has the potential to
change almost every aspect of our lives. It has been
forecast that Internet businesses will generate a
turnover of USD5 trillion to USD6 trillion by the year
2003.
9. This opening ceremony, besides representing the
physical readiness of Cyberjaya's infrastructure, also
symbolises the success of various ongoing processes:
Firstly, it signifies yet another successful
collaboration between the public and private sector;
Secondly, the timely completion of this first phase of
Cyberjaya's development despite our recent economic
difficulties, is proof of our commitment to all
investors in the MSC. Its timely completion will also
contribute significantly to our ongoing economic
recovery.
10. This ceremony also highlights the completion of
several key complementary `soft' infrastructure. These
include the various cyberlaws we have enacted and
measures to catalyse E-Commerce development.
11.We have also put into place the necessary support in
terms of training and human resource programmes for
the development of technopreneurs and knowledge
workers. The official launch of Cyberjaya, also
signifies that the last major building block of the MSC
is in place. Cyberjaya is one of the MSC's two
flagship intelligent cities - the other one being
Putrajaya, the neighbouring Government Administrative
Centre, which is also ready for occupation. These twin
cities supported by the Technology Park, the Twin
Towers and Multimedia University are set to form the
nucleus of the new digital community for the nation.
12. Most of all, this ceremony though modest,
symbolises the fact that Cyberjaya, complete with
advanced infrastructure, is now ready for occupation.
All MSC-status companies are now expected to move into
one of the four designated cybercities within a year
of Cyberjaya's opening. For those companies who have
already set up operations in Cyberjaya, I would like to
express our deepest appreciation for your support and
confidence and for helping to pioneer this venture of
ours. I would also like to call on other MSC-status
companies to re-locate to Cyberjaya early to reap the
full benefits of association and networking with all
the other elements of the MSC.
13. There are many reasons why MSC-status companies
will find moving to Cyberjaya an excellent value
proposition.
14. Cyberjaya is equipped with world-class
telecommunications networks to be supplemented by high
quality public amenities. Cyberjaya is envisaged to
create a unique eco-friendly environment and community
to foster creative talent; Cyberjaya's unique and
strategic location including excellent access and close
proximity to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport,
would certainly add to its attractions. By locating in
Cyberjaya, MSC-status companies can also reap the power
of association. The presence of MMU, Tenaga University
and Universiti Putra Malaysia will seek to emulate the
Stanford- inspired setting of Silicon Valley and create
a networked, creative and productive society in
Cyberjaya.
15. Cyberjaya is a greenfield development, uniquely
designed to be a global test-bed. We are not held back
by rigid or entrenched practices and policies.
Cyberjaya will be a unique blend of the best from East
and West evolving to take on its own creative culture.
16. The success of the MSC to date is due in no small
measure to the advice, support and show of confidence
of the IAP. Thus, Malaysians are honoured to share
this historic opening of Cyberjaya with all of you. We
look forward to your continued counsel on the
continued development of the MSC and its crown jewel -
Cyberjaya.
17. Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan di sini untuk
mengucapkan tahniah kepada pemaju utama Cyberjaya iaitu
Setia Haruman, dan kepada semua pemaju-pemaju lain dan
syarikat-syarikat, badan-badan kerajaan dan MDC yang
telah bersama-sama berganding bahu dalam usaha untuk
memastikan kejayaan projek ini. Saya mempunyai penuh
keyakinan bahawa Cyberjaya akan mencapai kejayaan dalam
memenuhi visi negara pada masa hadapan.
18. Dengan kata-kata ini, saya dengan sukacitanya
merasmikan pembukaan Cyberjaya.
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