September 2003 updates

MALAYSIA: A busy September for Malaysian ICT sector
By Chin Saik Yoon at Penang, Malaysia. September 2003

MSC to expand

The first week of September saw Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad launching the second phase of Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) across Malaysia, and possibly the world. He announced on 5 September that the MSC will expand to other cities in the country and eventually to other parts of the world. The second phase is scheduled to run until 2010 and will involve 250 international companies.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who will take over from Mahathir as Prime Minister in November 2003, told the press on the same day that he would like to concentrate on e-government, education and e-communities in the second phase of the MSC.

Malaysian Microchip

The Japanese research group, FEC Inc., signed an agreement with the government on 9 September to hand over the rights to design, manufacture and market a microchip. The chip measures 0.25 sq. mm. and has an in-built antenna which renders the chip suitable for a wide range of applications ranging from health to security. The chip will be manufactured in a plant located in Kulim in the north-west of Peninsular Malaysia.

Government fixes prices of CDs

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister announced on 17 September that the prices of CDs will be fixed at RM21 (US$5.50) for local music CDs and RM29 (US$7.60) for foreign music CDs. These discs presently retail from about RM20 to RM45. The move is aimed at protecting the interests of the artistes and music industry. Some members of the industry have expressed their reservations about including music CDs as a government price-controlled item and feared that the move will have counter-productive effects on the industry.

Post offices to provide free Internet access

The estimated 4,300 post offices in Malaysia will be equipped with Internet centres for people to use without payment. This move is aimed at bridging the digital divide affecting the people living in the rural areas of the country. The Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Multimedia told the The Star newspaper on 21 September that 16 such centres have already been established, 40 more will soon be set up and the others will follow in phases. Each of the computer centres are equipped with two to five computers. This effort is part of the RM1 billion allocated under the Eighth Malaysia Plan to improve ICT infrastructure in the rural areas.

Broadband for all schools

The Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Multimedia announced on 27 September that work on connecting all the 10,000 schools in the country with broadband access is expected to begin soon and should be completed by June 2004.