Malaysia’s Prime Minister recently launched Malaysia Digital, the initiative to accelerate the growth of the nation’s digital economy for the benefit of Keluarga Malaysia. Driven by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM) through Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Malaysia Digital is a national strategic initiative by the Government to encourage and attract companies, talents and investment while enabling Malaysian businesses and the Rakyat to play a leading part in the global digital economy.
Malaysia Digital succeeds MSC Malaysia, which was an initiative that helped transform Malaysia into a knowledge-based economy since 1996. Through the new and enhanced framework, the freshly launched initiative seeks to enhance the nation’s digital capabilities and boost the digital economy.
Malaysia Digital will help Malaysia be more prepared for today’s constantly changing landscape as well as build the foundation of a digital nation, ultimately benefitting the Rakyat, businesses, government and nation. To achieve this vision, the role of the industry will be pushed as equally important for an impactful implementation of the Malaysia Digital initiative.
The Minister of Communications and Multimedia stated that Malaysia Digital is evidence of the continued efforts of K-KOMM and MDEC to spur Malaysia’s digital economy, aligned with the Ministry’s vision to establish a society that is informed, creative, and digitally cultured.
He noted the launch of Malaysia Digital will serve as a stepping stone for the nation’s digital economy to achieve greater heights in the future, adding that K-KOMM and MDEC will establish a dedicated platform for the industry to continuously participate and provide valuable feedback on Malaysia Digital, which will include private-sector representatives from relevant industry bodies and organisations as subject matter experts.
Malaysia Digital was designed to address three strategic priorities, which are to drive digital adoption among aspiring young entrepreneurs, companies and the rakyat; to support local tech companies to become ‘Malaysian Champions’ and successful international players, and to attract high-value digital investments.
To realise these priorities, the Government, through MDEC, will introduce two initial Malaysia Digital Catalytic Programmes (PEMANGKIN), which are DE Rantau and Digital Trade.
DE Rantau is a programme to boost digital adoption and promote professional mobility as well as drive tourism across the country, with the goal to establish Malaysia as the preferred Digital Nomad Hub. Digital Trade, on the other hand, will drive interoperability and greater harmonisation of standards and regulatory approaches as well as to facilitate trade within and across borders.
The execution of Malaysia Digital will be led by the Malaysia Digital Coordination Committee (MD-CC), which will serve to coordinate the governance and operations of Malaysia Digital, including awarding Malaysia Digital status to companies.
The CEO of MDEC said that the agency will continue to drive and accelerate the sustainable growth of the nation’s digital economy with Malaysia Digital as the overarching initiative towards establishing Malaysia as the digital hub of ASEAN.
Malaysia Digital is bolstered by three key considerations – Flexibility, Agility, and Relevance – which will pave the way for the nation’s ongoing and future efforts as well as add more PEMANGKIN to meet the needs and demands of the future as we step into tomorrow’s digital frontier, today.
Also present at the launch of Malaysia Digital were the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Economy Affairs; the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs; the Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia; the Deputy Minister of Finance I; the Secretary-General of K-KOMM; Secretary Generals of the various Ministries; and the Heads of Departments and Agencies under K-KOMM.