MALAYSIAN PM TO LAUNCH "MY IDEA" PORTAL

KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to launch the "My Idea" portal in August to encourage people to submit innovative and creative ideas involving all aspects of life.

Deputy Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Fadillah Yusof said the
portal would be embedded within the ministry's official website,
www.mosti.gov.my

"People can submit and share any proposal that will improve their daily
life," he told reporters after officiating the International Conference on
Computing and Informatics 2009 here Wednesday.

The ministry will also establish a panel to consider and assess every
proposal for further action, he said.

Meanwhile, Fadillah said the information, communication and technology (ICT)
industry, must be aware that both innovation and resource mobilisation were keys
to success in the competitive global environment.

He said innovation required curiosity, creativity and an ingenuity mindset
as well as the ability to apply knowledge to change things.

"It is about developing and turning those ideas into commercially viable
products," he said.

On resource mobilisation, he said the government and private sector
would explore initiatives for collaboration to ensure an adequate pool of
researchers, scientists and engineers (RSE).

Fadillah said his ministry aimed to increase the number of RSE to a ratio of
50 to every 10,000 workers in priority areas.

To achieve this target, he said the ministry would join hands with global
technology leaders to bring about technology transfer and capacity building
programmes to train local RSE.