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10 NATIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES

Bridging the Digital Divide – Malaysian Government’s initiative to provide wider and more even ICT coverage between the different areas and groups in the society.

A high-performance Communications and Multimedia Sector is a prerequisite in the efforts to turn Malaysia into a developed nation based on a knowledge society as underscored by Vision 2020.

In line with the critical role of the sector in national development, the Communications and Multimedia Act (Act 588) has succeeded in developing the legal framework for the communications and multimedia sector.

The Act has also underlined the 10 National Policy Objectives for the communications and multimedia sector that were formulated to strengthen the performance of the sector as well as equitable access and local participation in the sector.

The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Communication (MEWC) is responsible for the policy and strategic planning of the communications industry, coordinating its implementation and monitoring industry performance.

The main objectives as provided in the Communications Multimedia Act 1998 are:

  • To establish Malaysia as a global centre and hub for communications information content services;
  • To promote a new civil society where information-based services will provide the basis of continuing enhancements to quality of work and life;
  • To grow and nurture local content and culture;
  • To give priority for the long-term benefits of the end user;
  • To promote consumer confidence in the industry;
  • To ensure access and equitable services;
  • To create a robust applications environment for end users;
  • To allocate resources efficiently;
  • To develop sector capabilities; and
  • To provide secure and safe networking.
 

Global Scenario

The picture on digital divide is quite worrying. Statistical data shows that 51 out of the world’s top 100 economies are companies (as opposed to nation states); or about 80 per cent of the world’s population has never made a telephone call, let alone accessed the Internet (World Research Institute); or that nearly three billion people live on less than US$2 (RM7.60) a day – they definitely cannot afford even the lowest end PCs. Such is the extent of gap between the rich (information haves) and the poor (information have-nots).
Unfortunately, the proceedings did not go beyond expressions of concern. Apart from generic calls for ICT companies and great economies to do more for the community or humanitarian causes, no solution to the identified problems were proposed.

Malaysia’s Scenario

In terms of distribution of PCs in the urban and rural areas, the concentration is in the urban areas, primarily Selangor, Federal Territories and Penang which contribute to more than 65 percent of computer density in Malaysia. In the meantime, the rate of PC penetration per household is still very low, ie. at 5 percent.

As for Internet access, the 1998 statistics showed Internet penetration at 6 percent for every 100 population and 11.9 percent for every household. While Malaysia recorded a growth rate of 182 percent in Internet subscription, once again growth concentration is more on the Klang Valley area, Selangor and major towns in the country.

These statistics clearly shows the overwhelming difference of PC and internet availability between the urban and rural areas.

Among the most important step to bridge the digital divide are to create awareness among the rural population and to provide the infrastructure to the rural areas. Efforts have already been carried out by the Malaysian government and the private sectors especially in providing infrastructure. To boost the development, a few awareness campaigns through internet and other medium have been launched.

Our latest effort in creating IT awareness is an integrated campaign through a bimonthly bulletin, a web portal and a video commercial/montage promoting IT to the rural population.

 

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE INITIATIVES

Digital divide is quite apparent in the ICT sector. There exists a gap between the information rich and the information poor among various groups in Malaysia. Coincidently, the pattern is that the former is located in urban areas whilst the latter in rural, as similar scenario as in the case of poverty. To correct the digital imbalance, the Ministry of Electricity Water and Communication (MEWC) and its predecessor ministry, the Ministry of Electricity, Communication and Multimedia (MECM), have embarked on numerous digital inclusion initiatives aimed at fulfilling the national objective of ensuring equitable provision of affordable ICT services over ubiquitous national infrastructure as set out by the Communication Multimedia Act 1998.

Connectivity to the internet in rural areas was addressed through initiatives that<