& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

The MSC: Bridging the future

Engaging the community, narrowing the digital divide

What is the MSC?
Conceptualized and created in 1996, the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) is a national project by the Malaysian Government to propel Malaysia into a Knowleged-bascd society, through the innovative use of information and communication technology (ICT). As one of the key engines of growth, the MSC will help drive Malaysia to achieve its vision to become a fuUy developed nation by the year2020.
The Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) aims to achieve its goals by revolutionising how Malaysians and others in the region conduct business. Located at the hub of Asia's fastest-growing markets, the central MSC corridor occupies a 15 km by 50 km corridor governed by groundbreaking Cyberlaws, polides and practices that enable operating companies to harness the full potential of ICT and Multimedia. Its goal Ls to provide an ideal multimedia environment that attracts topflight Malaysian and international IT and multimedia companies or those that has the potential to become world-class over time. The MSC is also a model of how ICT can provide a better quality of life for citizens.
In January2005, the MSC began its national rollout by expanding to the newly conferred MSC Cybercity in Bayan Lepas, Penang. This will soon be extended to Kulim High Tech Park in Kedah and other states such as Perak and Melaka. It is envisaged that by the year 2020, every state in Malaysia will have a designated MSC Cybercity forming a network with Cybcrjaya in the pilot MSC area as its nucleus.
The MSC has also become the regional launch site for companies developing or using leading multimedia technology, allowing these innovators to harness Malaysia's unique competitive advantages that arise from its multicultural links, committed leadership, and proven track record in developing products and services for the regional and global markets.
MSC Milestones
To date, there are more than 1200 local and foreign companies as well as universities under the banner of the MSC These establishments have achieved the highly-regarded and sought after MSC-status certification which provides a number of incentives with the backing of the govemmentCurrentiy, a number of MSC-StatUS companies have been successfully listed on the Malaysian stock exchange and are exporting their products and services worldwide.
Cyberjaya; the world-leading intelligent city, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), KL Tower, Technology Park Malaysia and UPM-MTDC within the pilot MSC area now form the nuclei from which the MSC Network of Cybercities will be extended.To date, more titan 60 world-class multinationals such as BMW. Ericsson. DHL, HSBC, Shell. IBM. and Microsoft, have set up their global or regional operations in the MSC whereby these focused efforts have created home grown solutions, talents and technopreneurs. They have generated approximately RM6 billion worth of investments and helped created 22,000 high-value jobs for Malaysians, out of which. 19,000 ate knowledge-based jobs. ICT exports have also totalled RM 12 billion while RM419 million has been spend on R&D expenditures.
MSC Flagship Applications such as Sinan School, MyKad, e-Govemment. Telehealth, Technopreneurship, eBusiness, R&D, Creative Multimedia, Shared Services and Outsourcing were initiated to accelerate the socioeconomic growth of the country and is currently on a National Rollout stage.
What are the major initiatives of the MSC?
• Managing the growth of the MSC Ls the Multimedia Development (Corporation (MDC). MDC attracts foreign investment, nurtures local ICT companies and develops tht MSC's infrastructure and cyberlaws. In partnership with other Ministries, government agencies and private companies, MDC has created:
• MyKad - This Is Malaysia’s national smartcard which can securely contain our identity card, driving licence. Touch & Go application. MEPS cash, etc. In 2003, a total of 6 million cards were issued. By2005, 15 million MyKads will be rolled out. The technology behind this smartcard is a world’s first, developed by Malaysian companies.
• Smart School - Generations of young Malaysians who are educated and nurtured through Smart Schools will be more ICT-savvy, intelligent, creative, innovative and resourceful. The Smart School, unique in terms of curriculum, learning materials, teaching methods and management system; is now' in various stage; of national roll-out. • Telehealth - The Malaysian healthcare system will be transformed through the use of ICT. Through die internet and special software, Malaysians will be able to obtain at least die basic medical knowledge, in Une with die flagship "wellness” concept. Medical records can also be accessed from various hospitals or clinics via the use of ICT from where patients are seeking treatment in. Referrals can be done quickly. Through a central-
ised link-up, all medical facilities will result in faster and better medicalservices.
• c-Govenimcnt - This national project is aimed towards improving the quality of interaction between the public and the private sectors. With e-Govemment, we can pay utility bills, check for traffic summonses, submit tenders for government contracts, register new businesses, etc, online through the internet Through e-Govemment, we can also leam about and obtain contact information on all government ministries and departments.
• Technopreneurship-This initiative helps young aspiring Malaysian ICT companies to reach their full potential to grow into sustainable and profitable businesses.
• e-Business - More and more businesses are now trading online. Advertising on the internet helps Malaysian companies reach a wider international market. Through the internet, trading becomes very efficient through secure online purchasing and financial payments.
• R&D - To nurture and ensure the continued growth of highly innova live Malaysian companies and cutting edge technology, this MSC initiative was created.
• Creative Multimedia - The MSC Malaysia has become the choice location for local and foreign creative multimedia companies whk 11 produce creative content for film, television, animation and coin puter generated images for the global market.
• Shared Services and Outsourcing In a recently released global survey, MSG Malaysia is now ranked third (after India and China) in the important and fast-growing shared services and outsourcing sector.lt has also been ranked first before China, India and Singapore in terms of providing a conducive environment for the same sector in year2005by another global survey.
MSC R&D Grant Scheme
The MSC R&D Grant Scheme or the MGS was intended to realise the MSC into becoming the global hub and preferred location for innovative global R&D centres. It is divided into two major programmes with one desired goal.The two programmes are the Strategic Thrust Areas In Research (STAR), a global programme and MSC R&D Grant Schemes(MGS), a domes- tic programme, which are aimed to create multifarious R&D projects and rechnoprenuurs of diverse industries, develop R&D capabilities of MSC companies and also to produce pools of talented researchers. Through the MGS, MSC anticipates the employment of capable home-grown researches, the transfer of R&D methodologies and expertise and collaboration between industries and IHLs, which will then lead to further product development, innovation and commercialisation.
TheMSC Next Leap
The first seven years of the MSC were focused on developing the foundation for a socio economic transformation in Malaysia through ICT. The second stage of its development Ls the "MSC Next Leap ' which will place greater emphasis on ICT as an enabler of a better quality of life an access for each and every Malaysian to better education. healthcare and social opportunities without marginalising anyone.
The MSC Next Leap will cover the period between 2004 and 2010 and aims to promote' innovation as a cornerstone of Malaysia's standing in social and economic development and is intended to narrow the digital divide.
With the national roll-out ready to commence, several MSC cybercities and cybercentres will be set up and are expected to stimulate the ICT agenda throughout the country while not excluding any sector of the nation's economy. By 2010, the MSC aims to attract 250 global companies from both local and foreign multinationals.
To enhance the quality of the nation’s education system, 10,000 schools will become Smart schools with the roll out of the pilot programme. Besides the Smart Schools, all the other MSC flagship applications, which are vehicles designed to overcome the digital divide, will be enhanced, while new flagships will lie introduced to amplify
national competitiveness and value added services. The final milestone of the MSC Next leap is to ensure that the Malaysian corridor is linked with leading global smart communities for mutually beneficial social and eco nomic gains. Essentially, die Next Leap is expected to provide Malaysians with more innovative ways of coping with the dynamic nature of the modem world.
Driving this bold initiative Is the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC), a high-powered 'one-stop agency', wholly focused on ensuring the success of the MSC and the companies operating in it It markets the MSC globally, facilitates investment, formulation of new Cyberlaws and policies, and sets standards for the MSC's information infrastructure and urban develop meats. Its mission is also to help bridge the digital divide of the country towards achieving die objectives of Malaysia's Vision 2020.