INNOVATION IN ICT AND TECHNOLOGY WILL CONTINUE TO BOOST MALAYSIA`S ECONOMY

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia believes that its economic growth
will continue to accelerate with innovation in technology and information
communication technology (ICT) and higher broadband use, said Deputy Information
Communication and Culture Minister Joseph Salang.

He said the transformation of Malaysia's commodity-based economy to one
based on services was the strongest indicator that ICT haf played its part
in the country's growth.

"For the past decade, Malaysia has made a concerted effort to move into the
knowledge economy using ICT as the engine of growth," he said at the 5th World
Telecommunications Development Conference (WTDC) in Hyderabad, India. His speech
text was released here.

He said Malaysia's recently announced New Economic Model leveraged on ICT
and innovation to further transform the nation towards the goal of becoming a
high-income economy.

Broadband was needed to spur further investments, create high-value
employment, broaden productivity gains and wealth accumulation, as well as to
maintain sustainable growth, he added.

The conference is being held from May 24 to June 4.

-- BERNAMA