DECISION NOT TO REGULATE AUGERS WELL FOR ICT DEVELOPMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17, 2013 – The Malaysian government’s decision not to emulate its neighbour’s decision to regulate the local internet scene will definitely see further growth in the local IT services segment.

Tengku Farith Rithauddeen, Group CEO of SKALI, Malaysia’s leading integrated eGovernment and eBusiness company, said that the assurance given by the Prime Minister, Datuk Sri Najib Razak, recently would definitely encourage more to embrace IT especially in those related to e-government and e-commerce initiatives, of which the government is currently pushing very hard for its implementations in line with the New Economic Module.

“Nevertheless, while we welcome this guarantee of freedom by the Prime Minister himself, netizens should be more responsible with what being posted in the Net by only disseminating accurate and factual information.

“They only have themselves to be blamed if the government were to decide otherwise later on, due to them being irresponsible and not being ‘sensitive’ with their postings,” added Tengku Farith.

Malaysia is expected to experience a robust growth in the IT services market with the government already adopting several related policies that are conducive to the growth of the ICT industry.

Based on a recent Gartner Report released in October 2012, Malaysia’s IT services market size is forecasted to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 9.53 per cent from 2011 through 2016, with more attractive opportunities to be made available due to the government’s measures to make Malaysia a growing regional services and outsourcing hub.

The advent of Internet and social media has changed the local political scenario tremendously with the public being able to receive all kind of news and information with just a click.

“While we can understand the reporting ethic that need to be followed by the mainstream media, social media and news portals should take the liberty to practice the same ethic and self-censored wherever applicable.

“Social media exists in cyberspace, with no space or territory, and a government of a country should not claim jurisdiction over the site and requiring the site to apply for a license.

“While they may be able to deal with those sites established in their own countries, the same cannot be said for those located overseas.

“Thus the imposition of such regulation must be carefully thought through to avoid unnecessary hassles that could hamper the progress of the development of IT in this country.

”If Malaysia were to regulate the Internet, many may decide to host their websites or portals outside the country and this will definitely hamper the government’s quest of making Malaysia a hosting or data centre hub,” said Tengku Farith.