Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR.
MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : HOTEL PALACE OF THE GOLDEN HORSES
Tarikh/Date : 31/03/2000
Tajuk/Title : MALAM 'ASIA PACIFIC MSC
IT&T AWARDS' (APMITTA)
Saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada pihak MDC sebagai
penganjur Asia-Pacific MSC IT & T Awards, atau APMITTA,
kerana menjemput saya untuk berucap pada malam ini.
2. When we launched the MSC in August 1996, we had
full confidence in the soundness of its concept. The
concept has been based on the experience of Silicon
Valley and Route 128, the growth of ICT and the dynamism
generated from the convergence of computing,
telecommunications and content. We have not replicated
the growth models of these hubs but we have innovated
and advanced further on the basis of our interaction
with the industries and the MSC's International Advisory
Panel members.
3. The fundamental objective of the MSC is to provide
the policy and the operational framework to Vision 2020.
We want to propel the country during this millennium
fuelled by information technology and driven by
creativity and knowledge. We want to generate high value-
added economic activities covering all sectors of the
economy and compete globally. While we compete globally,
we also advocate co-operation and the sharing of
experiences. The MSC is seen as our venture into the
Information Age as well as the bridge to network among
nations.
4. I am happy to note that during the last three and a
half years the MSC has made tremendous progress. The 306
companies awarded MSC-status and the nature and spread
of their activities indicate the value and depth of the
research in the technologies and applications being
developed. This includes more than 147 wholly Malaysian-
owned companies that are involved in high value-added
activities.
5. I am also pleased to note that the MSC is
anticipated to create more than 35,000 jobs for
knowledge workers in the next five years and attract at
least 50 world-class companies by 2003 to set up value-
added activities for the country and the region. Current
progress indicates that the targets are achievable. In
this context, I wish to reaffirm that the Government is
fully committed to support the growth of the MSC in
order to achieve the milestones that have been
identified. Various measures will also be undertaken to
spawn local companies into global players as well as to
draw Bumiputera participation in the mainstream of high
value-added business activities.
6. It is also heartening to note that the MSC has
accelerated the growth of human resource investment in
this country. The supply of knowledge workers has been a
major concern of investors during the early years. I am
very much encouraged that based on the more than 600
private and public universities and colleges, and the
implementation of the smart school programme, Malaysia
will be able to meet the demand for knowledge workers.
By the year 2005, the supply will reach 109,000 with a
strong percentage in engineering and information
technology. Human Resource has indeed become a critical
ingredient in sustaining the growth of ICT as well as
the high technology sectors of any economy.
7. The unprecedented advances in communications and
information technology of recent years are already
having far-reaching effects on industries and society at
large. These advances, prompted by competition and
growth of the global markets, were facilitated by the
substantial investments in research and development.
Malaysia sought to partake of the many spin-offs that
will arise by being a part of this Multimedia
revolution. Thus in the MSC we are promoting the
creative and risk-taking culture where knowledge workers
can network and innovate in an environment which is most
attractive for such activities. Cyberjaya is meant to be
just this utopia and with the completion of its
infrastructure in July last year, we are well on the way
to creating such an environment. The MSC's excellent
physical infrastructure will enable companies not only
to deploy the latest technologies, but also develop new
cutting-edge technologies.
8. Malaysia aims, through the unique environment
provided by the MSC, to promote the development of next-
generation multimedia technologies by forging
collaborative R&D efforts amongst leading-edge
corporations, public research institutions and
universities. The comprehensive and internationally-
focused R&D cluster, driven by strong Government
commitment and guarantees, will allow the MSC to lead
Asia's R&D initiative into the Information Age. To
attain this mission, we must renew efforts to develop a
cluster of collaborating world-class corporate R&D
centres, universities, public research institutions and
other industry players. Malaysia and indeed the Asia
Pacific region cannot afford to be left out of the
dynamic global ICT progress. We can only do this by
having a deliberate programme of R&D in relevant fields.
9. I am sure you are aware that among the key
strategies to provide focus on R&D are the MSC flagship
initiatives. The R&D cluster flagship application in
particular is a critical application to help ensure that
the MSC is for companies to create and innovate. The
necessary core elements are the encouragement of
corporate R&D; the setting up of a new Multimedia
University (MMU); and the development of large-scale R&D
pilot projects. The MMU is a reality whilst the other
two goals are being pursued vigorously. Despite the
advances made, we must further expedite our efforts to
attain the set goals. The speed with which the private
sector and Government transact their business will
influence all our lives. R&D is key to achieve this
change and participation in such R&D will ensure our
economic survival. Linking research, creativity and
business activities is imperative to add value and
applications for R&D investment.
10. To be competitive, companies need to invest heavily
on R&D and continuously improve their products and
services. Product lives will get shorter and shorter and
new products and applications will always be introduced
to extend continuously the boundaries of creativity and
technology in order to meet consumer needs and demands.
11. Tonight is a special occasion where we unveil to
the world the fruits of our labour for the last three
and a half years. The companies in the MSC have
responded to the Government's call to invest in
Information Technology and Multimedia. They have risen
to the challenge with a glittering array of outstanding
creative achievements, which we celebrate on this
occasion.
12. They have displayed their creative capabilities and
resourceful innovation in developing products and
services in a variety of categories, ranging from
software and content development to 3-D animation. Their
achievements are testimony to the fact that on a level
playing field offered by the Information Technology and
Multimedia industries, Malaysian companies and
individuals could still pull away from the pack even
though we are relative latecomers in this field.
13. The success of these companies and individuals
demonstrate the key importance of creativity and
innovation in driving economic growth in the Information
Age. Creativity is about seeing things from a different
angle and breaking away from old rules and norms that
bind us to the traditional way of doing things. It
allows us to be different and helps us find new answers
and solutions to problems, both old and new. From
creativity comes innovation, and it is from this
realisation that the Government has embarked on the
creation of the MSC, which is an environment designed to
enable creativity and innovation to flourish.
14. It is crucial that the elements of creativity and
innovation fostered by investing heavily in research and
development are further supported by venture capital
funds to commercialise products and services of high
quality and high value-added. In this regard, Malaysian
companies and entrepreneurs should face up to the
challenge of thinking out of the box, so that
traditional limits to growth can be overcome via more
creative and innovative thinking as well as supportive
funding arrangements. An example of this can be seen in
California, which hosts some of the most successful
Information Technology and Multimedia companies in the
world, and is home to many more up-and-coming small-to-
medium sized enterprises driven by a thriving venture
capital industry. Largely due to the contributions of
the technology sector, where creativity and innovation
is of prime importance, coupled with a risk taking
culture amongst venture capitalists, California has the
highest value-added manufacturing industry of any
American state, and its GDP is larger than that of the
ASEAN countries combined.
15. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we will recognise
the value of innovation and creativity of Malaysian
technopreneurs. The Asia Pacific MSC Information
Technology & Telecommunications Awards or APMITTA will
provide a platform for companies and individuals to
participate and propel themselves in areas where
Malaysians can become major players in Information
Technology and Multimedia.
16. We have envisioned in our Vision 2020 that
Malaysians should not be mere consumers of
technologies but should also be able to contribute to
the development of new technologies. Tonight's event is
a manifestation of efforts towards this goal.
17. APMITTA is a step in the right direction towards
this goal. I appeal to all IT and multimedia companies
to support this programme. I hope that this initiative
would eventually lead to the creation of a new
generation of hi-tech start-ups and the establishment of
many more local companies that will join the ranks of
world-class companies.
18. I am informed that close to 200 submissions were
received in the various award categories. This is a
testimony to our innovative and creative capabilities,
and bodes well for the future success of the MSC.
19. I am also informed that the award programme tonight
is a prelude to the Asia Pacific IT Awards where the
participating Asia Pacific countries will parade their
selected IT and multimedia winners to the global
community. This would provide Malaysian companies with
the opportunity to showcase their creative and
innovative capabilities on an international stage, and
prove that we have what it takes to stand shoulder-to-
shoulder with the world's best.
20. Lastly, I wish to congratulate all the individuals
and companies that have participated and 'syabas' to all
the winners of this year's Awards.
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