M'SIA TO CONTINUE TO RAISE THE NEED TO CURB NEGATIVE IMPACT OF ICT

FROM HAFIZAH KAMARUDDIN

GUADALAJARA (Mexico), Oct 8 (Bernama) -- The move by Malaysia to raise the
security issue arising from the internet, including the need to check child
pornography as well as the impact of information communication and technology
(ICT) on cultural values was welcomed by various quarters including world
leaders and telecommunication bodies.

The motion raised by Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais
Yatim at the 18th Plenipotentiary Session of the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) on Tuesday was deemed to deserve attention because the current focus
was more on the development of the information technology infrastructure rather
than its impact on human civilisation.

Rais said he would continue to raise the issue at the international forum so
that it would not be ignored by the various quarters and would ensure that
various follow-up actions were taken, he told Bernama and Radio Television
Malaysia (RTM) before departing home on Thursday.

The minister, who was accompanied by his wife, Masnah Rais, arrived here on
Monday to attend the ITU conference, which is held once every four years, also
spent time meeting with his colleagues from various countries during and outside
the meeting.

Rais said that after tabling Malaysia's proposal that the ITU reviewed its role
and constitution to ensure that ITU's progress did not erode the community's
cultural values and tradition at the ITU pleno session on Tuesday, he would
follow up by sending a letter to ITU secretary-general Dr Hamadoun Toure.

During a meeting with Malaysian journalists, Toure said that the issue should be
supported by all countries by drawing up a legal framework to tackle it and
every government throughout the world should give priority to the issue.

In fact, ITU was working hard to forge cooperation and finance the project to
provide a secure and safe cyber space for everyone, he said.

Toure himself had described Malaysia as a major partner in ITU in tackling the
cyber threat through the International Multilateral Joint Venture Against Cyber
Threat (IMPACT).

In his speech at the Malaysian reception on Wednesday, Toure also said that
Malaysia had been a committed and active council member in promoting ICT while
Malaysia's representative on the ITU's Radio Regulator Board (RRB) Dr Ali Ebadi,
had been a good team player.

Toure said Malaysia had been successful in its ICT development, and ICT had been
the number one priority on the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's agenda,
and was always able to share its experiences with the developing countries.

Rais said he would not stop at the ITU conference in raising these issues but
would continue to raise them at the various platforms including at the Asean
Meeting of Telecommunication and Information Technology Ministers (Telmin)
together with dialogue partners Korea, China, Japan and India scheduled to be
held in Kuala Lumpur at the end of the year.

On Malaysia's achievements in the field of ICT, Rais said the feedback he
received from the various foreign leaders on the development of ICT in Malaysia
had been very positive.
-- BERNAMA