M`SIA: OUTSOURCING INDUSTRY TO GENERATE 300,000 JOBS BY 2012

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), March 2 -- The outsourcing industry is expected to
generate 300,000 jobs by 2012, said the Association of the Computer and
Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (Pikom) chairman, David Wong Nan Fay.

"In Malaysia, the shared services and outsourcing industry grew by
about 15-20 percent last year compared to the ICT industry, which
was only about five percent," said Wong, who is also the Outsourcing Malaysia
chairman after a briefing on the Asia-Pacific Outsourcing Summit here Monday.

The summit from May 11-13, is organised by the International Association
of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), in association with PIKOM and Outsourcing
Malaysia (OM).

Also present at the briefing was MDeC Industry Development vice president
Saiful Bahri Mohamad Shamlan who said in MSC status companies currently, there
were about 80,000 jobs related to the industry.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the IAOP Michael F Corbett said to further
develop the industry, the main focus is to drive down the risk factor in terms
of financial, political and intellectual property.

"There should also be more proactive measures in making companies abroad
aware of the unique advantages that Malaysia has to offer," said Corbett.

The summit is expected to attract about 500 professionals across
the region.

-- BERNAMA