M'SIAN GOVT ROLLS OUT ADVANCED NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The government has rolled out an advanced
national communications infrastructure by wiring up 1.2 million households and
business premises with fibre-optics and enabling all internet subscribers
to receive a fast speed of between 10 MBPs (Megabytes per second) to 1 GBPs
(Gigabytes per second).

Prime Minister Najib Razak in his opening remarks at the MSC International
Advisory Panel (IAP) meeting here Tuesday said, the high speed broadband network
will create a platform to develop future ICT applications, while providing the
people, businesses and government agencies with a competitive boost via cutting
edge communications.

Thus he said, he is pioneering a new style of intimate, people centric
approach through the use of ICT.

"My 1Malaysia website allows Malaysians to interact directly with me via the
internet. It is not a passive site but fully interactive. Those accessing it can
not only hear my thoughts but also submit their suggestions directly to me
online," he said.

Elaborating on this, Najib said that a recent open solicitation for
suggestions on the government budget, drew more than 400 responses from the
public.

This warm response he said, was followed by 500 more from the public
following the budget announcement, and these would be taken into consideration
next year.

The Prime Minister also said, Malaysia has done very well in the past by
growing an industrial base while expanding the agricultural sector.

At the same time he said, the country had also nurtured a strong oil and gas
industry.

"Our prior focus on attracting foreign investment as a low cost producer,
has somehow created a dilemma, as our industrial advancement has not kept pace
with global leaders and we remain rather under developed in this respect.

"We need a new paradigm to not only help catch up but take us on a
quantum leap into the ranks of developed nations," he added.

Najib also said that MSC Malaysia had entered the third phase of its
development and would expand the country's ICT Vision for industry and society.

"The next phase of MSC Malaysia will build upon our success and accelerate
the use of ICT to boost the nation's economic growth and societal well-being,"
he explained.
-- BERNAMA