KUALA LUMPUR: The National ICT Association of Malaysia (PIKOM) has expressed confidence in new Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo to further develop the Malaysian digital economy.
PIKOM chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah said the appointment of Gobind to the ministry should ensure that the digital economy continues being an engine of growth for the Malaysian economy.
"As a lawyer, he will ensure the regulatory framework that governs the sector remains relevant and up-to-date against the fast-moving technology sector," Ganesh said in an interview with the NST Business.
The ICT sector has grown by leaps and bound ever since the Multimedia Super Corridor initiative was launched by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad back in 1996.
"It has placed Malaysia on the global ICT map,” Ganesh further said.
“As such, PIKOM is looking forward to reduction of bureaucracy and processes to ensure efficiency in decision making and execution of plans,” he added.
Ganesh further said it is important for Malaysia to continue with the strong ICT momentum of the past few years so that the country emerges as the internet capital of Southeast Asia.
Ganesh estimates that the Southeast Asian internet economy is expected to grow from US$50 billion to US$250 billion over the next seven years, and that public-private partnerships are key to Malaysia’s ICT success.
“Over the years, the ICT industry has received tremendous support from agencies such as Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Malaysia Venture Capital Management Bhd (Mavcap) and Malaysia Debt Ventures (MDV),” said Ganesh.
He particularly praised the leadership of MDEC CEO Datuk Yasmin Mahmood for bringing 'the work ethics and spirit of the private sector and international multinational companies (MNCs) into the public sector for the benefit of the local ICT industry'.
Yasmin was previously the general manager of HP and Dell, and managing director of Microsoft Malaysia.
"Ever since Yasmin became CEO of MDEC, she has taken MDEC to a totally different level and further established the digital economy as a key thrust of growth for Malaysia,” he said.
In 2020, PIKOM will be hosting the 24th World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) in Malaysia.
PIKOM, a private sector-led association, has been around for 32 years and has more than a thousand member companies involved in a whole spectrum of ICT products and services.
It is estimated that its member companies command 80% of total ICT trade throughout Malaysia.