KUALA LUMPUR: The review of the Malaysian Communications and
Multimedia Commissions Act 1998 (MCMCA 1998) and the Communications and Mulitmedia Act 1998 (CMA 1998) is top priority for this year, said Chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Dato’ Sri Dr. Halim Shafie.
Expected to be completed by mid-year, the review is targeted to be tabled in Parliament before the end of the year, said Dr Halim. The review is intended to enhance governance in MCMC including through the decoupling of the role of the Chief Executive from the role of the Chairman. Dato’ Sri Ahmad Shabery, Minister of Communications and Multimedia had previously said that this will ensure continuity and the balance of responsibility within the organization.
Dr. Halim is on a countdown to achieve specific tasks given to him by Ahmad Shabery when he agreed to come out of semi-retirement to helm the MCMC again.
His two-year term started in mid-January this year.
“Two years is not a very long time,” said Dr. Halim during a high tea session he hosted for the editors of the local media in MCMC today.
“Also on the Minister’s list of priorities is to see that there is a healthy cyberspace for Malaysians to interact in and engage with each other for positive uses. In the last 15 years, since the CMA 1998 came into force and Malaysia embraced convergence, things have changed so much. We have reached the point where we have relative ubiquity in our networks. Now, the emphasis has to be on content,” Dr. Halim said.
“We would like to see this network ubiquity being used positively in social terms so that the pervasiveness of the Internet has a constructive impact on the country through a rich content and applications environment. In fact, with the infrastructure more or less in place, utility content becomes more critical and we need to fill the space in sectors such financial, health and education. This
will require a high degree of integrity and security in our networks which we will need to continuously improve.”
Malaysia is one of the first countries in the world to have embraced convergence when the CMA 1998 was passed by Parliament. Dr. Halim agrees with Ahmad Shabery that the review to the CMA 1998 is not just about creating a healthy cyberspace but a holistic and healthy cyber environment as communications and multimedia services can affect not just the economy but also culture and tradition.
“If changes need to be made to the legislation, the focus will be about stimulating further growth in creativity, innovation and content, and creating a healthy cyberspace for governmental and industry development,” stressed Dr. Halim.
Ahmad Shabery had announced previously that greater emphasis will be put towards all aspects of digitisation for the country and he is keen to pursue a digital initiative which will cover both hard and soft infrastructure.
Said Dr. Halim, “The Minister is right in saying that we need this if Malaysia is to remain competitive as a nation, which is why the MCMC will be focusing on content development, and utility content, in particular. Of course, we have to constantly look at issues like quality, speed and affordability, also.”
“What we need to do is ride on the ubiquity. Utility content needs to be increased because the future of public service delivery hinges on this and it will have a great impact on the rakyat. This will add to a healthy cyber environment. What we need to do is keep our cyberspace healthy and safe for the government, industry and the people,” he added.
“We recognize the tremendous potential of communications and multimedia services in the development of the country, which is why we need to regularly review our regulatory framework to make it work for everyone, from all angles and perspectives.”
“As difficult and impossible as it sounds, we need to do some future-proofing and look beyond 2020 in terms of the role of communications and multimedia services,” he concluded.
Before his reappointment as Chairman of MCMC, Dr. Halim, 65, was the Chairman of Telekom Malaysia, a non-executive position he held for close to six years after his stint with MCMC ended. Dr. Halim served as Chairman of the MCMC from April 2006 till May 2009. Prior to that, Dr. Halim was the Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications where he served for six years.
Asked how he felt coming back to a full-time executive position after six years, Halim replied, “I admit that it is a bit difficult and I was a bit cautious in the first few days. But I know that I have the backing of the MCMC officers many of whom were with me during my earlier appointment. I am thankful that I am given the opportunity to contribute again to the growth and development of this sector. Besides, I found it very difficult to say no to the Minister,” said Dr. Halim with a smile.
Dr. Halim’s new tenure as Chairman of the MCMC will be from January 2015 until January 2017. -Bernama