Malaysian ICT market achieves 12% growth in 2006
Malaysia's ICT market achieved the 12% growth as forecasted earlier in 2006 by the Association of the ICT Industry Malaysia (Pikom), compared to an estimated 10% in 2005.
The most promising industry segment was services; business in the “old-line” segments of hardware, software and systems integration was flat. The market for notebook PCs has grown much faster than for desktop PCs, and there is strong demand for PDA- (personal digital assistant) type products. Another bright spot in the ICT industry was outsourcing.
In 2007, ICT market is expected to grow around 13%. The Government sector should remain the main driver of growth, since the Ninth Malaysia Plan's allocation for ICT projects was double the previous plan's.
Teachers are ICT heroes
Many teachers in Malaysia are adept at Information and Communication Technology and even capable of servicing and maintaining computers in schools. According to Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, this was clear from the way teachers were able to handle high-tech gadgets like laptops and overhead projectors.
Unemployed IT graduates urged to register with MDeC
Unemployed information technology (IT) graduates have been encouraged to register with Multimedia Develop-ment Corporation Sdn Bhd (MDeC).
Making this call, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis said IT companies such as Dell Malaysia and Satyam Computer Services Ltd were expecting to provide job opportunities for local IT graduates.
Dell, which has opened a centre here, expects to produce 1,500 jobs while, Satyam, an Indian based company expects to provide 5,000 jobs over the next five years.
Free job camp for unemployed engineering, ICT graduates
Curtin University of Technology Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) is offering unemployed Malaysian graduates in engineering and information communication technology (ICT) the opportunity to participate in a three-week Job Camp beginning Jan 15 2007.
The job camp, to be held in collaboration with the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Malaysia at the Curtin Sarawak campus, is to enhance ICT graduates' employability. The participants will be exposed to Windows Server 2003 server administrator and will be equipped with up-to-date knowledge and skills for the ICT industry and will receive the Microsoft Certified System Adminis-trator (MCSA) certificate upon completion of the camp. Admission is free but the university is limiting the number of participants to 30.
Govt to extend IPTA students' practical training
The Higher Education Ministry has agreed in principle to extend the practical training of those who had completed their studies at public universities (IPTA), especially those studying information communication technology (ICT), from six weeks to six months.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said a study showed that students who had a longer practical training attachment had a better chance of getting a job.
More than 600 Universiti Teknologi Mara (UITM) students from Shah Alam, Selangor, Melaka, Terengganu and Perlis took part in the programme which entailed doing community work in the state assembly constituencies of Bukit Bunga, Air Lanas and Kuala Balah.
Mustapa, who is also Jeli Member of Parliament, said students taking up entrepreneurship courses should also attend a longer practical training to produce world class entrepreneurs
Klang Valley to turn MSC
The Klang Valley will be turned into a Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) in stages, according to Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
He said details of the plan were being worked out and more cybercentres would be rolled out quickly in the Klang Valley. Abdullah said the Government would continue enhancing efforts in information communications technology, and e-education was being carried out in schools.
