Laureate 2010
Statement by His Excellency Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak,
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Delivered on his behalf by H.E. Dato’ Seri Utama Rais Yatim, Minister
of Information, Communications and Culture
At the outset, allow me to take this opportunity to express my deepest
appreciation to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), particularly
the Secretary General of the ITU, H.E. Dr Hamadoun Touré and members of his team
for holding this dignified event of tradition. I am truly honoured for being one
of the recipients of the 2010 World Telecommunication and Information Society
Award. I am humbled by this singular recognition of our efforts towards
promoting ICT as a means to providing better life for our people.
My appreciation also goes to
the Government and the people of the People’s Republic of China for hosting this
occasion and receiving us so graciously in Shanghai.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
145 years ago, on 17 May 1865, a new era in
communications began with the founding of the International Telegraph Union –
the precursor to the existing ITU. In awe, we witness how technology has changed
since. We are extremely fortunate to be living in an era in which technology has
advanced most rapidly. The very fact that we are seated here today, to mark the
anniversary of the founding of the ITU – the oldest agency of the United Nations
some 145 years later, highlights the tremendous progress we have achieved as a
global community and further paves the way for the opportunities and potential
ICTs presents to us towards our goals of social and economic development for
humanity.
In this increasingly
interconnected and networked world that we live in, it has become critically
important for us to keep abreast with the latest technological advancements and
continue to tap the huge potential of ICT to build an open, inclusive and
knowledge-based society. It is also apt to note that this year’s theme ”Better
city, better life with ICTs” becomes a timely reminder for us that the digital
divide exists not only in the rural areas but also amongst those less fortunate
in the cities.
More than a decade ago,
Malaysia realized the importance of ICTs in national development and nation
building. Amongst the policy reforms and initiatives that have been introduced
in this sector included privatization of the telecommunications and broadcasting
services and the progressive liberalization of the sector. In the desire to
harness the benefits of ICTs and based on the principles of convergence, we
developed what was then a new institutional arrangement, whereupon we enacted
the world’s first convergent legislation – the 1998 Telecommunications and
Multimedia Act and established the world’s first converged industry developer
and regulator for the communications and multimedia sector.
Since then we have embarked on a vigorous rollout of telecommunications
infrastructure involving the wired and wireless, in cities and villages. These
have been stepped up of late, such that we are among the first to implement
WIMAX and have been rated as one the frontal countries in the world with
extensive 3G coverage. Today our mobile penetration rate stands at 109% of
the country’s population of 28 million.
Whilst looking forward, we
also do not forget the rural and remote area dwellers. We have implemented
various Universal Service schemes to increase access to communications services
to underserved areas and communities. We have invested greatly to ensure
that our rural communities have access to ICT through community centres,
schools, rural libraries and clinics in our efforts to bridge the digital divide
as well as increase ICT adoption and raise penetration rates.
The country’s premier ICT project,
the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) envisioned as a catalyst for the ICT
development for my country, has seen much success as it enters into its 14th
year. Since its inception in August 1996, we have seen the creation of over
2,000 MSC-status companies, creating more than 100,000 knowledge-based jobs and
many home-grown ICT-related products and services, talent and technopreneurs.
In our efforts to transform
the country towards becoming a developed nation by 2020, we have created a new
economic model which is based on innovation and ICTs. One of the underlying
building blocks for this new economic model is our National Broadband Initiative
which started less than two years ago, on 16 September 2008 involving a
public-private partnership and High Speed Broadband (HSBB) services. Combined
with another initiative called Broadband for the General Population, the
Government aims to increase the broadband penetration rate nationwide to 50% of
by the end of the year. The immediate focus however is to increase
capacity in all the economic areas in Malaysia, targeting specifically
commercial and academic entities. In efforts to drive Broadband
Penetration and transition to the Broadband economy, the Government officially
launched the National Broadband Initiative on 24 March 2010 which will take us
to the next stage of development underpinning Malaysia’s competitiveness and
social development
The Malaysian Government is committed to
ensure that the evolution of Broadband in Malaysia is as widespread as possible
with maximum impact for all Malaysian’s. We have also put in place
specific and focused initiatives to bring the peoples of Malaysia, namely those
with lesser means, with affordable and equitable access to communications
services to empower them to achieve their individual aspirations and
collectively, our national aspirations. We do this regardless whether they are
in the cities or rural areas. As such the Malaysian Government has recently
announced initiatives for setting up Broadband Centers, additional towers and
infrastructure as well as boosting PC ownership. At the same time we put a
premium on quality and affordability in all our broad band services.
We believe this initiative will drive
home social and economic transformation besides achieving our New Economic Model
and our objective of becoming a high income nation by the year 2020. We also
aspire to become a more competitive nation through innovation, high creativity
and the free flow of information.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Malaysia is honoured that the ITU has
named the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats or IMPACT
as the physical home of its Global Cybersecurity Agenda. Headquartered in
Cyberjaya, Malaysia, IMPACT is tasked with the responsibility to operationalise
cybersecurity initiatives across 191 countries. Thanks to its landmark agreement
with the ITU and the backing of the United Nations, IMPACT today plays an
important global role in bringing together the full might and resources of
governments, industry and academia in the fight against cyber threats.
What Malaysia has achieved in the
communications and multimedia sector is not the work of one man. The seed of its
development had been sowed long before me and it is in this light that I would
like to dedicate this Award to my predecessors, the former Prime Ministers of
Malaysia and all levels of leadership, for their vision and foresight in laying
the foundation of our ICT industry as a means to providing the quantum leap to
becoming a knowledge-based economy and a high income nation. ICT remains
as one of our spinal thrusts in forging our well accepted 1Malaysia concept in
nation building.
I also dedicate this award to all
Malaysians. This recognition is one for Malaysia and I thank the ITU once again
for this honour. Of course, there is much more to be done but I see this as the
beginning of a new phase in our nation’s journey towards bridging the many gaps
and divides towards creating a knowledge-based and high income economy.
In closing, I enjoin all Malaysians with
humility and gratitude in accepting this award. Let us strive to achieving
knowledge, lasting peace, and harmony through ICT – the driving force that
brings home civilizational changes for us all worldwide.
