Rais: Uniform laws needed for ICT

SINGAPORE: Malaysia has proposed that security systems and prevention methods for information and communication technology offences be made uniform to ensure effective implementation of laws related to ICT.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim made the proposal at a two-day Ministerial Forum on ICT here.

Rais said that at the moment, an important issue for Malaysia was ICT security and how prevention methods in the respective countries could be made uniform to ensure authenticity and the countries' sovereignty.

“I mention authenticity because many parties are unsure of this. They assume that the Internet, computers and online telecommunications technology are not governed by law or linked to the security of the respective countries.

All smiles: Rais (right) presenting a souvenir to Singapore’s Information, Communications and the Arts Minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahim after opening the Malaysia Pavilion at the CommunicAsia 2012 in Singapore. — Bernama

“We must pay serious attention to security issues, including the rule of law of the respective countries,” he said on Monday.

Rais said developed countries had already put several prime measures in place to deal with the issue to ensure the future of the industry.

Rais added that the telecommunications sector in Malaysia generated over RM40bil in revenue yearly and the figure was rising.

Yesterday, Rais said a learning method suitable for all ages and levels of society needed to be created to further encourage the use of ICT among the public in Malaysia.

“The relevant parties, like the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), should draw up an easily understood learning module for ICT to benefit the people, especially those in the rural areas.

“The important thing is to get the rural folk to change their attitude about learning, even in old age, about computers, the Internet and broadband, and the benefits of these facilities,” he added.

He said the Government was aiming to establish 3,100 wireless villages by the end of the year. There are 1,400 such locations now.

Rais said broadband penetration had increased to 63.4% from only 11% in 2006 while cellular subscription jumped 127% from 19.5 million to 37 million during the same period.

He later opened the Malaysia Pavilion at the CommunicAsia 2012 at the Marina Bay Sands here. - Bernama

AUTHOR : The star online