SPEECH

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER

 

FOR

 

MALAYSIA DIGITAL EXPO 2023

GRAND FINALE

 

6 NOVEMBER 2023 (MONDAY)

 

MITEC, KUALA LUMPUR

 

 

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Taala Wabarakatuh dan Salam Sejahtera

 

YB Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil,

Menteri Komunikasi;

 

YB Teo Nie Ching,

Timbalan Menteri Komunikasi;

 

Keluarga MDEC;  dan

 

Rakan-rakan yang saya muliakan.

 

1. Saya mengucapkan tahniah dan terima kasih kepada Mahadhir Aziz dan keluarga MDEC yang menyelenggarakan acara pada hari ini yang bagi kita adalah suatu fokus yang utama dalam ekonomi MADANI. Kita membicarakan soal transformasi digital dan ia memerlukan satu pendekatan baharu atau anjakan dari kerangka pemikiran yang lama kepada suatu yang sangat mendesak.

 

 

2. Kita harus belajar dari pengalaman negara-negara lain, negara maju, negara berkembang seperti Estonia dan beberapa negara lain. Saya mahu khususnya keluarga MDEC memerhati bukan sahaja meneroka keadaan yang mendesak dalam negara tetapi melihat perkembangan 10 tahun dahulu sehingga sekarang di negara-negara yang lain supaya kita tidak terlibat dalam beberapa kesilapan yang lalu dan kita tidak mampu melengah-lengahkan tindakan.

 

3. Transformasi digital ini seolah-olah menggapai langit, bukan sahaja meneroka yang baharu tetapi menggapai yang betul-betul baharu, yang mencabar, yang belum selesa dan biasa di kalangan rakyat. Tetapi cabarannya juga adalah untuk mengakar di bumi sebab itu kita membicarakan tentang penglibatan ramai yang lebih inklusif supaya dalam menggapai langit itu, kita tidak meninggalkan rakyat di bawah terutama kawasan pendalaman dan miskin bandar.

 

4. This happens to be our major challenge. We are embarking on a new technology, which is essentially a major challenge to most countries. That is why I have called upon MDEC and the Ministry to learn from the experience of the past in order to strive and ensure that we are able to compete. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the initial players.

 

5. We have therefore to embark and learn from the experience with many other countries, at the same time realize that in economy MADANI, the issue of active disposition, the concern about inequality, the need to be more inclusive in urban, rural, the heartland, the middle class, the urban poor, and those who have been essentially deprived from basic amenities. This is a major challenge, and I think the six weeks effort by MDEC in the MDX clearly did focus on this.

 

6. I would implore that you do more because every time we accelerate the pace of changing development, at times the negative impact is, of course, growing inequality. Inequality is a major concern. There are strength in the American economy. The basic weakness is of course, the issue of inequality and I do not think in the MADANI concept of things, we should allow this to happen.Yes, there will be inequality, but gross inequality, abject poverty or grinding poverty is not something that we can condone in this country.

 

7. Therefore, the challenge of digital transformation must cover areas that possibly has not been addressed satisfactorily by other countries. Malaysia’s prominence as a premium business and investment destination is evidenced, as said by YB Fahmi Fadzil just now, by our consistent ranking among South Asia’s top countries for launching startups and three of our cities have secured places in the Top 1000 of the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2023.

 

8. But I do not understand why we cannot have ten? Why must we confine ourselves and be lulled into this sort of complacency? Yes, we have achieved three. My next question is, why not ten? Why not Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, Johor bahru? and of course, Penang dan Ipoh is near Tambun.

 

9. Globally we currently hold the 43rd position and we are resolutely aiming to break into the Top 20 by 2030. Many of my friends have alerted me, suggesting that it is rather too ambitious but it takes clarity in policies, determination and discipline.

 

10. That is why I stress the moment I assume on the issue of governance. We have the capacity only if we are prepared to adjust or make major adjustments from the old ways of doing things – we say in a polite terms, the old business as usual, the leakages, the corruption, the slow pace of approvals, although we talk about accelerating the process, and even we talk about one stop agency, which I was really familiar with since the eighties and nineties.

 

11. You know what it means, one stop agency? It stops there. So that is why last week’s cabinet I was suggesting that why do not you change this term, one stop agency, by putting some accelerate the process or whatever, so that it gives a real meaning. Instead of one stop agency, I do not know who coined it the phrase.

 

12. Those of you familiar would certainly appreciate the concern of many. There is absolutely no reason why our ministries and bureaucrats tolerate this delay. We have good professionals, we have clear policies and guidelines. We have to therefore ensure that we are more efficient and accelerate the process of approvals.

 

13. Now, we have attracted RM384 billion in digital investments and of course, impressive. But my next question is not why not have a trillion? Or 180,000 high value jobs? Unemployment is not a serious problem in this country, but we are churning out hundreds and thousands of graduates and therefore we have to again accelerate the process and not end with one stop agency.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

14. We have firmly established as a global leader in global business, services, sector. Investments for this year and by 2025 is estimated to be about RM80 billion to RM90 billion and you have seen this last few weeks or last few months generic interest by not only the investing community but big investors from China, United States, Germany, we have Infineon from Germany, huge investments of EUR5 billion. We have from the States, China and also visits from prominent leaders.

 

15. We had visits from Prime Minister of Netherlands the previous week and yesterday Prime Minister of Japan and this week with Vice President of China. We have therefore this added advantage seen as an important emerging economy. They have attracted interest not only by political leaders, but more so business community.

 

16. What we need is to again, I need to reiterate the need to expedite the commercialization of research and innovation. Entities such as Khazanah, Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad, Cradle, Penjana Kapital have consistently provided assistance and investment opportunities.
17. Corporate giants like Petronas and Maxis are actively supporting both seed stage and rising star companies. Funding and mentorship opportunities are abundant through venture capital firms and accelerators which collaborate closely with international entities.

 

18. Now, the Malaysia Digital Expo 2023 is a testament to our unwavering commitment to realizing our digital economy ambitions. It encapsulates the core values of the MADANI economic framework. Our vision is resolute, to establish a growth economy that is not only sustainable but also inclusive, aligning with the essence of Malaysia MADANI and the fundamental pillars of the MADANI Economic framework which encompasses the New Industrial Master Plan, the National Energy Transition Roadmap, roadmap and numerous economic growth and foreign direct investments initiatives.

 

19. Our ultimate aim, of course to translate our vision into tangible value underpinned by resounding impact. Now, the challenges of course in its deliverables. Meaningful impact that elevates the quality of life of every Malaysian and their loved ones. Our digital economy stands as one of Malaysia’s key economic pillars ot only in matter of contributing substantial 23.2% to our nation’s GDP, but the challenge is of course to ensure that we emerge as a successful nation and digital transformation is a key strategy in this regard.

 

20. Now, in the third quarter of 2022, the digital economy garnered USD15.7 billion in investments and this is one of the fastest growing sectors. The Malaysia Digital National Strategic initiative on the pivotal sectors of trade, agriculture, services, smart cities, healthcare, finance, content, tourism and the Islamic digital economy, which we are giving special focus not only in terms of what is referred by the Minister in terms of halal, but to explore new avenues, new potentials, new windows that can be seen to be a major and leading player in the Islamic finance and Islamic economy.

 

21. In the 2024 budget, I presented an initiative to propel the growth of digital innovations and next generation technologies and it is again an effort to ensure that we become an innovation driven economy.

 

22. So the experts are here. I am giving, of course more general prescriptions because I do not think I am able to compete with you in terms of that level of expertise. So to ensure that I remain relevant, I make it general.
23. Anyway, thank you very much and I am very appreciate of the efforts of the Ministry and MDEC in particular. Of course, rejoice with the extent of interest and support by those present and those have been following this session. It is an important event in my mind, but I must reiterate that much more need to be done.

 

24. The challenge is to MDEC is to make sure that every single Malaysian in every single village and district in the urban poor is not deprived of this opportunity to participate In this new technology.

 

Terima kasih.

 

Wabillahitaufik Walhidayah

Wassalammualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

 

 

 

 

Similar Posts:

• MDEC, DEPA INK MoU TO STRENGTHEN DIGITAL ECONOMY COOPERATION
• BUDGET 2023 TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CURRENT ECONOMIC CHALLENGES – PM ANWAR
• QUALITY INVESTMENTS, LOW CARBON ECONOMY, SOCIAL PROTECTION AMONG THE MEASURES IN STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC REFORMS — PM ANWAR
• A PROSPEROUS 2022, DRIVING NATIONAL ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY IN 2023
• THREE AGREEMENTS INVOLVING CYBER SECURITY, DIGITAL, GREEN ECONOMY SIGNED IN SINGAPORE – PM ANWAR