Former Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah suggested that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) should be restructured and placed under the Digital Ministry. The Bersatu MP representing Indera Mahkota said this is because it is unreasonable for the Digital Ministry to be given the mandate to manage everything digital for the country, but yet, it has no mandate over digital infrastructure which is the basic building block.
The Communications and Digital Ministry portfolio was split into two after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reshuffled his cabinet in December last year. As a result, Fahmi Fadzil was redesignated as the Communications Minister while Gobind Singh made his return to cabinet as the new Digital Minister.
After the reshuffle, Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) were placed under the Digital Ministry, while the MCMC remains under the Communications Ministry.
Saifuddin said Digital infrastructure is the basic building block for the country’s digitalisation efforts and serves as the main pillar of the country’s digital economy. He added that it also stands as a main pillar for digital relations with our neighbours, especially in ASEAN.
He added that the government needs to review the MCMC’s organisation structure as it has three roles which include regulating digital infrastructure, planning for future needs (next-generation digital infrastructure) and regulating social media.
He said two of the three are currently not under the Digital Ministry and it isn’t appropriate for the MCMC to be placed under the Communications Ministry. He quipped in Parliament, “Allow the minister in charge of the Ministry of Communications to have more time to play with his bicycle”.
Elaborating further, Saifuddin said the Digital Ministry should take the lead in every aspect of the digital ecosystem so that it can be managed holistically and sustainably. He stressed that it is important for Malaysia to ensure that it can build and develop a world-class digital ecosystem and provide benefits to the rakyat.
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