MCMC efforts to build skills set

Most people see the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as a market regulator playing the key role in lowering anti-competitive regulations and eventually paving the way for open competition. It has been making commendable progress in this direction. But the MCMC also has a development role, with one of the objectives being to increase the skills set in the communications and multimedia sector. Under its impressive Framework for Industry Development 2001-2005 document (downloadable at www.cmc.gov.my), which outlines the five major challenges it faces and specific deliverables it is aiming for, there is one deliverable that states: Work with relevant parties to promote the development of a local communications and multimedia sector. Towards this end, the MCMC sponsored a series of lectures with Promuda (Young Professionals Chamber of Malaysia) from April. The focus of Promuda, set up last year, is to identify primary issues of concern to young professionals (below 35 years of age) for immediate collective action. The lectures (see story below) focused on the communications and multimedia industry, and culminated in a Hari Raya dinner and lecture by MCMC chairman Tan Sri Nuraizah Abdul Hamid last week. Nuraizah spoke forcefully on the topic of Deregulation in the Communications and Multimedia Industry and invited Promuda members to fire away during question time: "I am here, you can whack me, it's all right," she said, encouraging the audience to be critical. That was the tone of the lectures - where the audience got to enjoy frank discussions with senior and knowledgeable people in the communications and multimedia industry. However, [email protected] noted that the audience was generally subdued when it came to question time, a trait Promuda president Don Rahim shrugs off as "a cultural thing". However, Promuda members seemed to have found their voices during Nuraizah's talk and peppered her with questions (unfortunately, the Q&A was off the record). And that is what the MCMC had hoped to achieve with its sponsorship of the series of talks - to get young Malaysian professionals interested in the new liberal environment the sector is moving towards and get them thinking critically on the opportunities awaiting them. In this regard, Promuda seems like an ideal partner for the MCMC for any future activities in creating awareness, interest and building skills among young graduates, those still pursuing higher education and those already in the industry. Promuda has more than 1,000 people registered on its e-mail list and has launched a portal (www.promuda.com) with the help of Skali.com. It aims to use the portal as a platform to reach out to more young Malaysians, both in and outside the country, to encourage them to be active participants in nation building and become knowledge workers. Although the immediate focus of the MCMC is on creating a level playing field in the communications and multimedia field, it should continue to organise such lectures and seminars to create awareness and increase the knowledge of Malaysians about the sector. The tie-up with Promuda shows that it is effective. The MCMC-Promuda lecture series The MCMC-Promuda lecture series on communications and multimedia was to give young professionals and the public a unique opportunity to keep abreast of current trends and developments from a first person's point of view. It brought together prominent policy makers and industry figures who play an instrumental role in shaping the nation's knowledge economy. The talks were conducted in an interactive social setting and amongst young professional peers. Among other things, the lecture series aspires: To raise the awareness of young professionals on the latest developments and most current issues in the communications and multimedia industry; To be an effective knowledge-sharing mechanism for young professionals with industry and government leaders; and To provide a forum for networking among young professionals, industry and government leaders. Topics addressed during the lecture series last year were: 1. The New Regulatory Framework for the Communications & Multimedia Industry by Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, senior manager, industry development division, MCMC on March 23. 2. 3G, UMTS, IMT 2000 - Hype or Reality? by Datuk Jamaludin Ibrahim, CEO of Maxis Communications Bhd on April 6. 3. Business Opportunities in a Wireless Economy by Bistamam Ramli, group executive vice-president of Celcom Bhd on May 4. 4. Addressing the Digital Divide by Shaharom Md Shariff, managing director of Pernec Corporation Bhd on June 6. 5. Fixed vs Wireless Broadband by Zamzamzairani Isa, president of Lucent Technologies Malaysia on July 6. Yang Yunyun is a columnist for The Edge who closely follows New Media development.