INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY PANEL MEETING TO ENHANCE MSC MALAYSIA'S ROLE

By Leslean Arshad

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- When the who's who of the information
technology (IT) industry convene for two days at the Putrajaya International
Convention Centre from Monday, a slew of key issues will await them to provide
views on enhancing the role of MSC Malaysia to accelerate the country's
transformation into knowledge-based, innovation-led economy.

The luminaries, who make up the MSC (Multimedia Super Corridor) Malaysia
International Advisory Panel (IAP) members, will be in the administrative
capital to discuss a host of topics, including developments and initiatives in
creative multimedia and broadband utilisation at the 12th IAP meeting.

Themed "Innovation Economy: Paving the Path to Prosperity", the IAP meeting
will be chaired by Prime Minister Najib Razak, who will also deliver the opening
remarks.

Najib is expected to present his ideas on Malaysia's new economic model for
the IAP members to give their input.

Last month while in Cannes, France, Najib had said that Malaysia was willing
to consider ways to incentivise the multimedia content industry.

He also said that the target set for a number of multimedia content
companies operating in MSC Malaysia would be revisited at the forthcoming IAP
meeting to accelerate the industry further.

Since 1997, the MSC Malaysia IAP has provided a platform for industry
luminaries to share their views with Malaysia.

Over the years, the appointed members and representatives have provided
useful counsel and opinions to Malaysia and its information and communications
technology (ICT) industry.

Their input has been used to draw up vital policies and directives for the
development of MSC Malaysia.

This time around, the IAP meeting will see a leaner participating panel,
representatives and invitees to enable the discussions to delve deeply into
relevant topics.

"We want a more active and proactive meeting, to give the members more
opportunities to voice their opinions," said Multimedia Development Corporation
(MDeC) chief executive officer Badlisham Ghazali.

To-date, 11 foreign IAP members, representatives and invitees had confirmed
their participation for the meeting.

Among the key speakers is Brian Mefford, chairman and chief executive
officer of Connected Nation, an organisation that works to bridge the "digital
divide".

Mefford, who is an IAP panel member, and his team were responsible for
helping make broadband available in the US state of Kentucky, under a programme
called ConnectKentucky.

He is expected to share his insights into how a similar initiative can be
useful in Malaysia.

In addition to the panel sessions, several announcements will be made during
the meetings.

These include updates on MSC Malaysia's cashless aid distribution scheme for
the poor and needy implemented in collaboration with welfare programme MyKasih,
details of the recently launched RM75 million (US$21.99 million) MAC3 fund for
MSC Malaysia-status animation companies, and construction of the MSC Malaysia
Creative Content Centre.
-- BERNAMA