New Straits Times

HARMONISIN­G DIGITAL MALAYSIA POLICIES

Country to see different landscapes of developmen­t under 12MP

- FARAH ADILLA KUALA LUMPUR bt@mediaprima.com.my

MALAYSIA will witness different landscapes of digital economic developmen­t in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

This will be driven by the implementa­tion of the new National Digital Economy Policy and the developmen­t of advanced technology ecosystems, said Malaysia Digital Economy Corp (MDEC) chief executive officer Surina Shukri.

She said the rapidly changing digital and communicat­ions industry had forced the country to review the Digital Malaysia plan, which has been in place for almost 10 years.

Hence, she said, the new National Digital Economy Policy was drafted in collaborat­ion with ministries and government­linked agencies, such as the Finance Ministry and the Economic Affairs Ministry.

“Malaysia’s digital economy overview can now be seen through the new National Digital Economy Policy framework built on new policies, such as the developmen­t of talent for new technology, cloud policy, data hub policy, data-sharing policy, creative content strategy, national Artificial Intelligen­ce framework and the fourth industrial revolution.

“All efforts are being devoted to harmonisin­g all these policies in

the framework. We are aiming to present this to the Cabinet by the third quarter.

“Our job in the new National Digital Economy Policy is to know how to do it, the direction, the target and where to invest in. For example, identifyin­g investment needs in the country’s cybersecur­ity in line with the rapid growth of sensors and Internet of Things ,” she said, here, recently.

Meanwhile, Surina said her appointmen­t to lead MDEC was to help advise the government in the digital economy, create investment strategies and plan Malaysia’s digital technology developmen­t efforts.

She said spending 25 years of working and living in the United States had given her exposure to market perspectiv­e, technology, investment, investor access and Silicon Valley perspectiv­e.

“I was chosen for having experience as a bank officer in a corporate giant organisati­on leading the digital transforma­tion of JP Morgan and then becoming an entreprene­ur and investor who founded a venture capital company.

“I will fully use my skill and experience to contribute back to Malaysia,” added Surina.

 ?? PIC BY ROHANIS SHUKRI ?? Malaysia Digital Economy Corp chief executive officer Surina Shukri has spent 25 years working and living in the US.
PIC BY ROHANIS SHUKRI Malaysia Digital Economy Corp chief executive officer Surina Shukri has spent 25 years working and living in the US.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Malaysia