Malaysia's ICT programme to create 160,000 jobs

A programme to entice individuals and local enterprises to use ICT in Malaysia is expected to generate 160,000 jobs by 2020.

The programme, Digital Malaysia, is expected to generate 31.1 billion ringgit (US$9.82 billion) in investment value based on a public-private partnership model, said Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) chief executive officer Badlisham Ghazali.

“The investments will be used to create 160,000 jobs, besides providing an additional 7,000 ringgit ($2,209) in annual income for 350,000 citizens via digital income by 2020,” he said yesterday.

Digital Malaysia is a collaboration between the science, technology and innovation ministry and MDeC that was started last year.

Deputy Minister Fadillah Yusof added that individuals and local enterprises would be lured to use ICT to improve their lives through the programme.

Its main intention is to advance Malaysia into a developed digital economy by 2020.

Digital Malaysia would allow for ICT penetration in all economic pursuits to enhance productivity and improve the standard of living for Malaysians.

“Previously, our focus was just to drive the industry. Today, our role has evolved to empowering citizens and businesses to use digital technology to enhance their lives and businesses,” he said.

“It will leverage on new and existing initiatives to make the local economy demand-focused, production-centric and high knowledge-added.”

He added that eight initiatives would be rolled out from this year under the programme.

They are Asian e-fulfilment hub, e-payment services for microenterprises and small and medium businesses, shared cloud enterprise services, microsourcing for income generation, accelerated international trade through e-commerce, on-demand customised online education, growing the embedded systems industry and a Mobile Digital Wallet.

SOURCES : THE STAR, 6 JUNE 2012