October 2010 - Chapter Nine:

Digital innovations in Malaysia

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Decisions made almost two decades ago are showing significant returns in Malaysia as the country focuses on developing digital technologies and innovations. In 1996 then Prime Minister Mahathir established the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) along the highway between the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and the international airport to the south of the city. The MSC offered companies attractive tax breaks and excellent facilities such as high speed Internet and proximity to the airport. In return, Malaysia aimed to attract knowledge-based international companies to help develop domestic markets. Cyberjaya, a planned city with a science park as its core, forms a key part of the MSC. This city aspires to be seen as Malaysia’s Silicon Valley. Cyberjaya officially opened in May 1997.
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Malaysia is well positioned to take full advantage of new technology such as iPad and the supporting software applications. Statistics show that in 2010 almost 17 million people were online – about 65 per cent of the population according to the Internet World Statistics web site (www.internet-worldstats.com/asia/my.htm). The impetus for this rapid development of the telecommunications sector including the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Project was laid out in the Sixth Malaysia Plan’s Vision 2020, introduced by former Prime Minister Mahathir in 1991. Its goal was to see Malaysia ranked as a fully developed country by the year 2020 and the plan recognized telecommunications as an essential component of development.

>>> PDF Download: Digital innovations in Malaysia [200 KB]

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