Improve infrastructure of Internet first, and make it cheaper still!

New Straits Times - Need for more local websites

To make it better, make it cheaper and improve the ISPs services first!

"Amende' lah gomen Malaysia?

TM.net and Jaring should be made to provide cheapest possible service and at improved performance. A panel of overseers should be formed to conduct performance checks and to gather feedbacks. This independant panel could also be used to continuosly monitor the ISPs, and any new additional ones!

Bukan susah nak selesai masalah!

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‘Need for more local websites’

There is a need for more relevant and attractive websites with local content to encourage more Malaysians to be more Internet savvy. To realise this, any information communication technology drive must include funds for content and application development.

Speaking at a dialogue at the Perak ICT Week 2005, TMnet Sdn Bhd chief executive Datuk Baharum Salleh said the 12 per cent personal computer ownership in the country showed that society had yet to fully embrace ICT.

He said there was a need to develop local portals to attract Internet users.

"A lot of sites are foreign-based. Taking Korea for example, its contents ratio is 90 to 10, but here it is the reverse."

Baharum said developing applications was not a problem; the challenge was getting users to accept the applications.

He said e-commerce was still very much in the infancy stage locally, adding that there had to be quick wins to attract more ICT technopreneurs as a five-year wait for a 60 per cent return on investment was considered far too long.

He said more efforts were also needed to encourage small and medium industries to incorporate ICT in operations.

Skali president Tengku Farith Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen agreed that more funds should be allocated for content development. He said the State should also be wary of technology dumping.

"It is important to get the correct advice and not fall into the trap of possessing technology which will be obsolete in a few years."

In another session, Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ambrin Buang said the development of courseware for a smart school system was one area that should interest ICT players.

He said the private sector should work closely with schools as there were already teachers who had developed teaching modules.

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