DIGITAL ECONOMY Gearing up to become test bed for new tech PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will accel­ Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad chairing the 30th Multimedia Super Corridor Implementation erate the journey towards emerg­Council Meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Present are (from left) Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin ing as a digital economy throughYassin, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Communications and Multimedia new initiatives, including becom­Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Transport Minister Anthony Loke. PIC BY LUQMAN HAKIM ZUBIR ing a global test bed for emerging technologies and innovation. tries and the government. market,'' MDEC said. achieved milestones in techno­ Prime Minister Tun Dr Ma­ The Malaysia Digital Economy Equally critical in boosting thelogical innovation and foreign in- hathir Mohamad said the digitalCorporation (MDF.C). which willdigital economy was the devel­vestment. economy, which had been grow­lead the implementation of theopment of Malaysian tech talent, “The last time I chaired the ICM ing faster than the overall eco­initiatives, said the global testDr Mahathir said. was in 2003, 16 years ago. At that nomic growth, was key to build­bed initiative aimed to attract To address the growing demandtime, Malaysia had already forged ing income for the people. next-generation emerging tech­for a digital-savvy workforce,ahead to transform into a regional "The initiatives will continue tonologies to innovate in Malaysia. MDEC proposed a new digital tal­technology leader,'' Dr Mahathir build on the national aim andMDEC will accelerate develop­ ent development strategy frame­said. vision of shared prosperity, util­ment in the fintech, blockchainwork to mobilise and coordinateMSC had grown in strength, ising digital technologies for andthe drone sectors by attractingthe end-to-end nurturing of nettingtech a total investment of social and economic uplifting globalof digital talents and interesttalent locally and on the inter­RM325 billion, of which 44 per Malaysians,'' Dr Mahathir said infrom investors. national stage. The frameworkcent were foreign investments, his closing remarks after the 30th MDEC said for example, a pilotwill coincide with the creation ofhe said. Multimedia Super Corridor Im­dronetech test bed Initiative wouldthe Cross-Ministerial Cabinet Dr Mahathir said the govern­ plementation Council Meetingbe implemented to leverage theCommittee, MDEC said. ment had proposed the setting up (ICM) here yesterday. rapidly increasing adoption ratesThe ICM was chaired again byor the National Digital Inclusion He said Malaysia, as a global around the globe. Dr Mahathir for the first time inCouncil to focus on creating dig- test bed for artificial intelligence, "The dronetech sector is esti­16 years. Topics discussed in-ital economy income opportuni- data analytics and augmentedmated to generate US$127 billionclude the progress of the Mul­ties for the people. reality, would be fuelled by a pow­by 2025. Several Malaysian com­timedia Super Corridor initia­ The council will be headed by erful talent pipeline, comprisingpanies are already global leaderstives, most of which had deliv-him and have representatives educators, members of the indus­in the international dronetech ered significant growth andfrom more than 11 ministries..