Govt rolls out advanced national communications infrastructure

2009/11/10

PUTRAJAYA: The government has rolled out an advanced national communications infrastructure by wiring up 1.2 million households and business premises with fibre-optics and enabling all internet subscribers to receive a fast speed of between 10 Mbps (Megabits per second) to 1 Gbps (Gigabits per second).

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his opening remarks at the MSC International Advisory Panel (IAP) meeting here today said, the high speed broadband network will create a platform to develop future ICT applications, while providing the people, businesses and government agencies with a competitive boost via cutting edge communications.

Thus he said, he is pioneering a new style of intimate, people centric approach through the use of ICT.

"My 1Malaysia website allows Malaysians to interact directly with me via the internet. It is not a passive site but fully interactive.Those accessing it can not only hear my thoughts but also submit their suggestions directly to me online," he said.

Elaborating on this, Najib said that a recent open solicitation for suggestions on the government budget, drew more than 400 responses from the public.

This warm response he said, was followed by 500 more from the public following the budget announcement, and these would be taken into consideration next year.

The Prime Minister also said, Malaysia has done very well in the past by growing an industrial base while expanding the agricultural sector.

At the same time he said, the country had also nurtured a strong oil and gas industry.

"Our prior focus on attracting foreign investment as a low cost producer, has somehow created a dilemma, as our industrial advancement has not kept pace with global leaders and we remain rather under developed in this respect.

"We need a new paradigm to not only help catch up but take us on a quantum leap into the ranks of developed nations," he added.

Najib also said that MSC Malaysia had entered the third phase of its development and would expand the country's ICT Vision for industry and society.

"The next phase of MSC Malaysia will build upon our success and accelerate the use of ICT to boost the nation''s economic growth and societal well-being," he explained.--BERNAMA

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