(Borneo Post; March 21, 2007)

By Raynore Mering

KUCHING: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) recognises Sarawak as one of the country’s leading states in the development of information and communication technology (ICT).

Its chairman Datuk Dr Halim Shafie said: “I must say Sarawak has been at the very forefront in terms of ICT development as far as the states are concerned. Sarawak is probably one of the first states to recognise the importance of ICT.”

He said yesterday Sarawak’s ICT initiatives became apparent when Tan Sri Datuk Amar Hamid Bugo was the State Secretary and he believed that the latter was one of the most responsive state secretaries in Malaysia to ICT.

Halim also applauded the Sarawak government for the setting up of Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) and Sacofa Sdn Bhd to boost the development of ICT in the State further.

“Sarawak is very much well poised to move ahead in ICT with these vehicles (SAINS and Sacofa),” he said when opening an ICT technology update seminar themed, “Electronic Government Access and Application - Broadband for all Malaysians”.

Halim, meanwhile, said the prevalent ICT and internet usage in Malaysia was a must if knowledge and human capital were to be further developed.

“If the pre-requisite of having a knowledge-based economy and a knowledge-rich society is not achieved, it will be a Herculean task for Malaysia to achieve its Vision 2020,” he said.

In this respect, he said the government in its Ninth Malaysia Plan had listed bridging the digital divide, ensuring equitable access to information and services, as well as developing new sources of growth in the ICT sector as among the few the key strategic focus areas for ICT development.

He added that specific budgets had been allocated for industry development programmes, research and development into broadband engines, e-learning applications and high-quality products, as well as a content development fund to build ICT applications.

He said, however, that the necessary communications and broadband infrastructure needed to be put in place first.

“We hope once the infrastructure issue is out of the way, more focus can be given to building relevant content, skills and getting the Malaysian public to use ICT extensively in their daily lives,” said Halim.

The day-long seminar was organised by MCMC with the cooperation of Malaysian Administration Modernisation and Planning Unit (MAMPU). Also present yesterday were Sarawak Federal Secretary Ngah Senik and MAMPU Sarawak director Md Rusli Bahazim.

Four papers were presented at the seminar by MCMC MyICMS general manager Zamani Zakanah; Energy, Water and Communications Ministry Senior Assistant Secretary (Electronic Infrastructure and Application Division) Siti Mariam Sanar; MAMPU Senior Assistant Director (ICT Security) Susie Dorai Raj and Danawa Resources Sdn Bhd Chief Technical Officer Peter Chew.

Mariam in her paper on the National Broadband Plan said the government’s plan was to increase the household broadband penetration to 25 percent in 2006, 50 percent in 2008 and 75 percent in 2010.

She said the estimated demand for broadband by the community, private sector and households was around 2,009,000 this year and 2,870,000 next year.

As of December 2006, there were 1.6 broadband users for every 100 people in Sarawak, 6.8 users for dial-up internet, 10.9 for fixed lines and 51.5 for mobile phones.

At the national level, there were 3.3 broadband users for every 100 people, 14 for dial-up internet, 16.1 for fixed lines and 72.3 for mobile phones.