Brainstorming: Dr Ongkili being interviewed by Studio V head Haridas Sivadas at Studio V in One Utama Tuesday.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians brimming with ideas on how to tackle the economic, social and technological challenges faced by the nation can share them at the upcoming MyIdeas portal.
To be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on July 8, the portal aims at receiving ideas and suggestions from the public. These will be showcased at the 2010 Year of Creativity and Innovation.
“Excellent ideas will be developed further by scientists, and the final idea patented or ‘copyrighted’ to the original proposer,” Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said.
Dr Ongkili was replying to a question from the public at The Star Online’s inaugural Live Chat at Studio V, One Utama Shopping Centre, yesterday in line with the news portal’s 14th anniversary.
He said the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) would manage the portal and spearhead the Year of Creativity and Innovation.
“As part of the preparations, there will be creativity competitions at district and state levels. There would also be innovation awareness programmes for students, youths and women’s groups,” he said.
The NIF’s website will be activated on Aug 1 and the public can find out more about the various programmes.
During the Live Chat, Dr Ongkili also explained that high-speed broadband Internet infrastructure was being rolled out currently and would take about 10 years to complete.
“We need major roll-out of the broadband plan in order to reduce costs. Pikom (Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia) has proposed that the cost should be no more than RM30 a month to make broadband accessible to all and increase Internet access.
He said he believed that target broadband speeds of 20Mbps for the commercial sector and not less than 2Mbps for the general population could be achieved within the next three years.
He added that while high-speed broadband Internet development was in the purview of the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry, his ministry was responsible for content development.
Addressing the public’s concern of under-performing broadband speeds in the country, he said it was not the sole responsibilty of the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry because the development involved state land when it comes to installing communication poles and lines.
He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission would give priority to the business, commercial and residential sectors. At the same time, the rural sector would also be given attention.
The public can access the rest of the interview with Dr Maximus at http://www.thestar.com.my/livechat/maximus.
Source: The Star
