speech by yb tuan haji fadillah bin yusof deputy minister of ... - MSTB

SPEECH BY YB TUAN HAJI FADILLAH BIN YUSOFDEPUTY MINISTER OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATIONLAUNCHING OF MSTB SOFTWARE TESTING CONFERENCE 2008 (SOFTEC 08)WEDNESDAY, 27 AUGUST 2008BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTRE, KL_______________________________________________________YBhg. Puan Mastura Abu SamahPresidentMalaysian Software Testing BoardYBhg. Dato’ Badlisham GhazaliChief Executive OfficerMultimedia Development CorporationMr Rex BlackPresidentInternational Software Testing Qualifications BoardProfessor Keith OthmanDirector of Research, University of Birmingham, United KingdomProfessor Jasbir DhaliwalHead of System Excellence Program,University of Memphis, United State of AmericaTuan-tuan dan Puan-puan yang dihormati sekalianSaya amat berbesar hati kerana dapat bersama-sama tokoh dan pakar yang dihormati dalam bidangpengujian perisian atau ‘Software Testing’ antarabangsa dan juga tokoh-tokoh tempatan dalampersidangan ‘Software Testing’ Malaysia yang julung kali dianjurkan oleh Malaysian Software TestingBoard. Saya difahamkan bahawa persidangan ini merupakan satu usaha yang amat bermakna bagisektor teknologi maklumat dan juga industri-industri berkaitan, di mana penerapan penggunaan perisianatau ‘software’ adalah meluas dan menelusi pelbagai aspek harian kita.Memandangkan persidangan ini merupakan satu platfom kebangsaan yang juga banyak disertai olehtokoh-tokoh antarabangsa serta para professional dari dalam dan luar negara, izinkan saya meneruskanucapan saya dalam Bahasa Inggeris.Ladies and Gentlemen:In an era where the information and communication technology industry is vibrant and a significantcontributor to the nation’s development, through its thriving foundation of skilled human resource,1

MSC Malaysia was initiated 12 years ago in 1996 to ensure Malaysia’s readiness to play a pivotal role inthe region even as its neighbouring countries gears themselves along the same line. In this respect, theindustry’s initiative to raise the level of national competitiveness through software testing is in line with theGoevrnment’s vision in transforming the nation into a knowledge based economy.The Malaysian Software Testing Board (MSTB), a newly incorporated non-profit organization that bringstogether main sectors in IT, businesses, academia and policy makers, is set to take Malaysia to that nextcritical level to remain competitive within the region and at the same time enters the global platform.We pride ourselves with skilled human resources and first class facilities of international standards inproviding our products and services to the world. Moreover, opportunities abound, with Malaysia currentlyranked amongst the top leaders of Shared Services and Outsourcing, SSO industry where we aim to berecognized and serve as the ICT hub for this region.Software testing is about quality and the Government is calling on all Malaysian companies to offerproducts and services of world class standards, with the aspiration to increase national competitivenesslevel.With thousands of IT graduates entering the market place annually, grooming software engineeringprofessionals for Software Testing has become an interesting proposition and Malaysia is definitely wellplaced to capture this opportunities available.Ladies and Gentlemen:A study on the MSC Impact indicates that while there are thousands of ICT students graduating everyyear, however, there remains an acute shortage of specialized ICT personnel and thus creating animbalance between demand and supply which needs serious attention.We must also keep in sight that with the introduction of AFTA and the free trade with the US, thecompetition landscape will change and the ability to compete has become ever pressing. Newcertifications standards will continue to be developed and introduced through AFTA while the AICOprogram is set to bring in competitors to the ASEAN region. Nevertheless, we have to look at this as anopportunity to offer our services, and expertise, to these foreign companies rather than feelingthreatened.Considering the will of the Government in taking up the ICT challenge and its level of commitment,Malaysia’s ICT stakeholders must therefore complement the Government by taking the lead inaddressing the gaps in the industry’s ability to compete on the global platform.This is where we should applaud the industry players behind the establishment of the MalaysianSoftware Testing Board, the first Company with Limited Guarantee and a Non-profit Organization that3

focuses on establishing and promoting software testing as an important industry and also as a worthwhilecareer path for the thousands of ICT graduates entering the market each year.Ladies and Gentlemen,I am glad that MSTB, in affiliation with the International Software Testing Qualifications Board or ISTQB,has brought to Malaysia a world - standard software testing certification and accreditation scheme thatwill raise the capabilities and the profile of our homegrown ICT professionals. To be a serious contenderin the ICT global arena, I urge all parties concerned to support MSTB in its effort to ensure that our ICTpractitioners, especially the software engineering professionals, individually or institutionally to not onlypride in what you do but also to acquire the professional certification and qualifications that willdistinguish yourselves from the mass of lesser-qualified test practitioners, while creating opportunities ina competitive, outsourced and increasingly complex market. I am also glad that representatives of theISTQB fraternity and the international software engineering community are here today to provide supportto MSTB and the Malaysian ICT industry, one of the most unique industry collaboration-based events inrecent years.Malaysia’s ICT industry must now take advantage of the certifications offered by MSTB, as it will not belong from now, that industries collectively makes it a standard to have professionals with the requiredinternational certification to remain competitive in their respective sectors. With over 80,000 ISTQBcertified professionals globally and only 90 from Malaysia currently, there is definitely a need to catch upand MSTB, with the support from MOSTI, shall design suitable programs to cater for the whole ICTindustry such that relevant capabilities are nurtured to enable new sources of wealth in technology andknowledge-intensive sectors be generated. This shall also include the MSTB-proposed Institute ofSoftware Engineers to regulate the practices of software engineers along the models of other establishedengineering regulatory bodies that has proven effective in raising their profile and professionalism ofengineers in the country.Ladies and Gentlemen:Once again, I wish to extend my congratulations to the members of Malaysian Software Testing Board ontheir visionary move to establish a Body that takes care of the interest of the ICT industry, and bringingMalaysian to the next level in the field of ICT by inviting experts in the field of software testing to KualaLumpur.I am confident that with the strong commitment from MSTB and the participation and support of the ICTcommunity, the whole nation will experience healthy growth in the ICT industry. With this, I hereby takethe pleasure and honor to officially open the Software Testing Conference 2008.Thank you.4