PM: SIX PCT ANNUAL GDP GROWTH NEEDED TO ACHIEVE DEVELOPED NATION STATUS

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The government needs to redouble its efforts,
identify new growth areas and ensure the nation maintains a six per cent annual
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth from now to 2020 in order to achieve a
developed status in 11 years, Najib Razak said here Monday.

The Prime Minister said measures to redouble its efforts and identify new
growth areas would be spelt out in the new economic model, expected to be
launched end of the year.

"The new economic model would provide a clear guideline on what needs to be
done and obviously information communication technology (ICT) would play a
greater role in this," he told reporters after chairing the 21st Multimedia
Super Corridor (MSC) Malaysia Implementation Council Meeting.

It was the first meeting to be chaired by Najib after becoming the Prime
Minister.

However, on the GDP growth rate, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said
the government will have to be realistic with its projections.

It would be difficult to maintain the high growth rate at a time when the
world is facing an economic crisis, he said.

"Realistically, we can achieve the six per cent growth when the global
economy recovers. We still have not recovered from the global recession. We
export goods and therefore we need the west to buy these goods. When there is
recovery in the west, then we can achieve the growth," he added.

On the MSC, he said the corridor was progressing as expected with over 2,000
MSC Malaysia status companies and almost 4,000 intellectual property
rights registered.

In 2008, MSC Malaysia status companies generated RM21.8 billion in revenue
with local companies contributing 69 per cent of the total, representing a
growth of 27 per cent in 2007.

"MSC Malaysia status companies made a contribution of RM7.09 billion in
exports in 2008 and this is a reflection of our ICT industry. The number of jobs
created in MSC Malaysia has also increased in tandem with the increase in
companies.

"There are now over 92,000 high skilled jobs in MSC Malaysia. I expect that
we would be on track in meeting the goal of 100,000 jobs by the end of 2010," he
added.

Najib, however, said Malaysia needed to work fast in creating an abundant
supply of well-trained and multi-skilled ICT workers who were on par with the
best of the world.

On the meeting Monday, the Prime Minister said he had emphasised for more
government ministries and agencies to adopt local ICT solutions provided that
these solutions and services were cost competitive and of high quality.

"I also feel that the government should utilise electronic means of outreach
such as e-mail, SMS (short messaging system) and social networks to connect to
the rakyat. For example SMS can be used to notify the people of floods and
potential landslides.

"On the same note, I would also like to see a higher utilisation of MyKad to
provide more conveniences to the people. This demonstrates that while ICT can be
a complex subject, at the end of the day, the people can benefit from it by
using a tool like MyKad," said Najib.

The Prime Minister said he was also pleased by the progress made by the
Agriculture flagship in the MSC, which was crucial in ensuring national food
security and improving income of farmers by leveraging on innovation and ICT.

"I would like to reiterate and as we discussed in the meeting earlier, MSC
Malaysia has certainly moved in the right direction. MSC Malaysia is not an MDEC
(Multimedia Development Corporation), it is not a MOSTI (Science, Technology and
Innovation Ministry) initiative, it is not even a government initiative. MSC
Malaysia is the national ICT initiative for the people of Malaysia," he added.
-- BERNAMA