Upgrading the facilities for IT Jobs

Malaysia will upgrade its communications and multimedia infrastructure
to be world-class so that it can support the rapid flow and accessibility of
information within the country and across countries at competitive prices. Given
the increasing importance of the Internet to support e-activities and knowledgeintensive
activities, there is a need for an integrated high-bandwidth national
backbone. A longer term perspective will be taken in the planning and implementation
of this facility to ensure that such communications and multimedia infrastructure
is state-of-the-art and will be able to keep pace with the rapid advances expected
in ICT.

Efforts will be directed to ensure equitable distribution and provision of
telecommunications infrastructure and services to underserved areas and groups
to bring them into the mainstream of the knowledge-based economy. For this
purpose, an effective universal service obligation programme will be put in
place. The Government will complement private sector contribution to ensure
network roll-out to underserved areas and groups. The services offered will be
made affordable. Specific targets to enhance penetration must also be set for the
medium term as well as for the OPP3 period. In addition, coordinated efforts
will be taken to accelerate the setting up of the Internet and multimedia kiosks
in strategic locations.

Local content development will be given a strong push. In addition to
catering for the global market, the need to preserve Malaysia’s history and
heritage and to exploit the local knowledge embedded in communities will be
duly recognized. Incentives will be provided to individuals and institutions of
learning to produce local content in local languages as well as to produce userfriendly
software and appropriate Internet access technology. The private sector
and NGOs will be encouraged to play a significant role in the area of content
development. Towards this end, among others, the regulatory framework governing
the local content industry will be reviewed and local players will be encouraged
to undertake R&D and develop their skills as well as form strategic alliances
with foreign partners.