Rockies Ma, Country General Manager of H3C Malaysia speaks about the recent changes with the Malaysian government and SMEs.
One of Malaysia’s first 5G networks has been launched in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) in a bid to provide faster Internet facilities for the nation.
This rollout was tabled in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), a development roadmap presented by Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, for the country’s 2021 to 2025 plan, aimed at restoring the nation’s growth momentum via a rejuvenation of all economic sectors.
Industry players have commented that the government’s focus on digitalisation under the 12MP will broaden market access as well as facilitate strategic and quality digital investment. In preparing Malaysia to become a digital hub, the government is targeting to provide an enabling environment for the growth of the digital economy under the 12MP.
According to the report, the government projects a 25.5% contribution of the digital economy to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). With the support of the Malaysian government, now is the best time to adopt digitalisation.
The company encourages enterprises to jump on the bandwagon to start their Digital Transformation journey. The government has also mentioned that they would intensify efforts to encourage micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt digital technologies to ensure that the public would have equal access to opportunities in the digital economy.
Not long after, the Malaysian government announced Budget 2022, reflecting similar approaches in line with the policies and strategies outlined in the 12th Malaysia Plan. Budget 2022 focuses on recovery, rebuilding national resilience and catalysing reform, to drive socio-economic recovery activities and the national development agenda.
Under the budget, the government would increase the Digitalisation Grant Scheme initiative for SMEs to RM200 million. It is said that the allocation can help accelerate the economic recovery, which took a setback due to the pandemic, especially in the SME segment. The budget is an effort to reflect the country’s determination in developing a more sustainable and inclusive digital economy, shaping it to become an attraction for foreign businesses to make the country their major investment destination.
The Malaysian government laid a foundation for the country’s transformation into a progressive digital economy. It is now onto the MSMEs to take a bold step in propelling their businesses forward by undergoing digitalisation. Industry-leading digital solution providers like H3C offer a full portfolio of digital infrastructure products which are cost-effective and provide a comprehensive one-stop digital platform that includes cloud computing, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the few main technologies that are suited for global manufacturers in Malaysia who are looking to heighten their automation while reducing hours and manpower.