KUALA LUMPUR, 29 APRIL 2010 -- The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognised Malaysia's prime minister, Dato Sri’ Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, as an Eminent Personality in the Digital Revolution.
Government ICT agency MDeC (Multimedia Development Corporation) chief executive officer Dato' Badlisham Ghazali welcomed the conferment on the prime minister of the ITU World Telecommunication and Information Society Award. “The prime minister was one of three laureates honoured by the ITU in conjunction with its 145th anniversary, and the only national leader to be given the award.”
"[This move by] the ITU is for the prime minister's dedication to promoting ICT as a means of providing a better life to the people, which acknowledges the broad-ranging initiatives that he has instituted to enhance and widen the use of ICT across Malaysian society and sectors of the economy," said Badlisham.
"Since Najib became the country's prime minister in April 2009, he has been at the forefront of the digital revolution in Malaysia, personally using social media applications such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter to directly engage Malaysian citizens, who are the primary stakeholders of the nation," he said.
He added that the award cited the PM’s efforts in making connectivity a priority, especially in the recently announced New Economic Model (NEM), which places a high level of importance on strengthening ICT infrastructure in the country. “The prime minister was also commended for his administration’s strong support for boosting global cyber security, via the IMPACT centre that has been set up in Cyberjaya.”
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ITU is an international organisation established to standardise and regulate international radio and telecommunications. When founded in May 17, 1865, Paris, France, it was known as the International Telegraph Union. ITU’s activities include standardisation, allocation of the radio spectrum, and organising interconnection arrangements between different countries to allow international phone calls.
ICT as a key facilitator for high-income economy model
The PM also recently launched the National Broadband Initiative, which seeks to enhance broadband access to more people in the country and provide them with greater opportunities to participate in the knowledge economy, said Badlisham. “PM has also placed a high priority on innovation to drive the further development and growth of a high-income economy, which is the centrepiece of the NEM.”
"With the prime minister playing an active role in the further development of MSC Malaysia, via platforms such as the Implementation Council Meeting and International Advisory Panel Meeting that he chairs, the national ICT initiative is in prime position to become a key facilitator of an innovation-driven, high-income knowledge-based economy," said Badlisham.
