Mahathir Seeks Partnership With Hong Kong, Singapore in Multimedia
July 12, 1999 - 0:0
CYBERJAYA, Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Friday played down the issue of competition with other Asian economies in his quest to turn Malaysia into Asia's multimedia hub, saying there was enough room for all. Mahathir instead promoted the concept of cooperation with such economies as Singapore and Hong Kong which are also forging ahead with ambitions of becoming high-tech regional centres.
"I'm quite sure they have something to offer which we may not be able to offer," Mahathir said, adding Malaysia had its own competitive advantages but looked forward "to working closely with them." "This is an industry which is growing at a rapid pace. No one has a monopoly of the kind of development you would accept from it (information technology) and multi media.
"There will be room for everyone. I am quite sure the interaction between the different centers will be beneficial to all of us," Mahathir said. Mahathir on Thursday declared that multimedia will be Malaysia's next growth engine in the new millennium after manufacturing as he launched a new hi-tech city here. Mahathir said the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), shaped after the Silicon Valley in California, would be the country's new "thrust area for sustainable growth" as it seeks to become a developed nation by 2020. Covering 750 square kilometers (300 square miles), an area larger than the size of Singapore, the MSC integrates Cyberjaya, a new international airport and the government administrative center of Putrajaya. Costing 2.2 billion ringgit ($579 million) and occupying 2,800 hectars (7,000 acres) in the MSC, Cyberjaya will house hi-tech companies, research centers and a multimedia university.
On Friday, Mahathir also brushed off critics who label the twin intelligent cities of Cyberjaya and Putrajaya as extravagant projects. The premier said Malaysia did not "borrow a cent" in order to carry out the projects. "We are not going to borrow from anyone. And in fact, until now, we have not borrowed a cent in order to build these two cities," he said.
British, Japanese and U.S. companies participating in the multimedia project, described it as a milestone for Malaysia. Lewis E. Platt, chairman of Hewlett-Packard Co., told a news conference that Malaysia deserved praise for the progress it made on the MSC project despite "the economic problems that the country was working its way through." "I think that is quite remarkable in light of the underlying circumstances that you had to deal within the country," he said.
Peter Bonfield, chief executive of British Telecommunications Plc., said the progress in Cyberjaya was rapid considering work began just two years ago, adding that Malaysia was a "long way in front of Hong Kong's cyberport." "You need to keep it that way. You need to keep the progress moving," he added. The MSC international advisory panel which advises Mahathir on the project's strategic direction is holding a three-day meeting.
Twelve out of 43 members of the blue-ribbon panel are present, along with representatives from 13 companies. The annual meeting is expected to discuss ways to woo more foreign investors to the hub, accelerate the creation of Malaysia's multimedia industry and chart the MSC's future direction. (AFP)
"I'm quite sure they have something to offer which we may not be able to offer," Mahathir said, adding Malaysia had its own competitive advantages but looked forward "to working closely with them." "This is an industry which is growing at a rapid pace. No one has a monopoly of the kind of development you would accept from it (information technology) and multi media.
"There will be room for everyone. I am quite sure the interaction between the different centers will be beneficial to all of us," Mahathir said. Mahathir on Thursday declared that multimedia will be Malaysia's next growth engine in the new millennium after manufacturing as he launched a new hi-tech city here. Mahathir said the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), shaped after the Silicon Valley in California, would be the country's new "thrust area for sustainable growth" as it seeks to become a developed nation by 2020. Covering 750 square kilometers (300 square miles), an area larger than the size of Singapore, the MSC integrates Cyberjaya, a new international airport and the government administrative center of Putrajaya. Costing 2.2 billion ringgit ($579 million) and occupying 2,800 hectars (7,000 acres) in the MSC, Cyberjaya will house hi-tech companies, research centers and a multimedia university.
On Friday, Mahathir also brushed off critics who label the twin intelligent cities of Cyberjaya and Putrajaya as extravagant projects. The premier said Malaysia did not "borrow a cent" in order to carry out the projects. "We are not going to borrow from anyone. And in fact, until now, we have not borrowed a cent in order to build these two cities," he said.
British, Japanese and U.S. companies participating in the multimedia project, described it as a milestone for Malaysia. Lewis E. Platt, chairman of Hewlett-Packard Co., told a news conference that Malaysia deserved praise for the progress it made on the MSC project despite "the economic problems that the country was working its way through." "I think that is quite remarkable in light of the underlying circumstances that you had to deal within the country," he said.
Peter Bonfield, chief executive of British Telecommunications Plc., said the progress in Cyberjaya was rapid considering work began just two years ago, adding that Malaysia was a "long way in front of Hong Kong's cyberport." "You need to keep it that way. You need to keep the progress moving," he added. The MSC international advisory panel which advises Mahathir on the project's strategic direction is holding a three-day meeting.
Twelve out of 43 members of the blue-ribbon panel are present, along with representatives from 13 companies. The annual meeting is expected to discuss ways to woo more foreign investors to the hub, accelerate the creation of Malaysia's multimedia industry and chart the MSC's future direction. (AFP)