(Person) Percentage - Sabanci University Research Database

The Asian Media & Mass Communication Conference 2010 Osaka, Japan
It is undeniable that many countries especially in the East Asia have taken proactive steps
in ascertaining that each country will enjoy benefits acquired as a result of being attached to the
Internet. According to Safar Hashim (2000) that each country in connection has already mad
preparations in order to face challenges posed by communication technology in the near future.
The countries are:
Indonesia
Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Phillipines
Brunei
Table 3: National ICT Plans
Nusantara 21
Multimedia Super Corridor
SingaporeOne
Software Park
Philippine network Foundation (PHNET)
Brunei Information Infrastructure (BII)
Under the administration Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia has greatly emphasized the
importance of IT in expediting, its social and economic developments. The commitment shown
by Malaysia not only involving its financial aspect but also has gone far beyond that such as in
making laws for supporting the propagation of communication technology of the nation. Various
initiatives have been taken such as:
a) National Information Technology Council
b) Malaysia National IT Agenda (National IT Agenda was launched in 1996 with the
hope that can transform Malaysia into becoming international hub thus support the
creation of information society)
c) Multimedia Super Corridor
d) Seven Flagship Application
e) Communications and Multimedia Act 1998
f) MSC Bills of Guarantees
g) International Advisory Panel
One basic truth that should be accepted that eventhough Malaysia’s initial effort was to
maximise the utilization of the interest and technology for the requirement and promotions of its
economy nevertheless these instruments were then being transformed and used as weapons by
bloggers. All these were started and guaranteed by the Malaysian government through MSC Bill
of Ganrantee that commits the following:
1. Provide a world class physical and information infrasturcture.
2. Allow unrestricted employment of local and foreign knowledge workers.
3. Ensure freedom of ownership by exempting companies with MSC status from local
ownership requirements.
4. Give the freedom to source capital globally for MSC infrastructure, and the right to
borrow funds globally.
5. Provide competitive financial incentives.
6. Become regional leader in intellectual property and cyberlaws.
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