Malaysia to craft national IoT blueprint

• Technical working group to present blueprint to government by October
• Complements transformative initiatives such as Digital Malaysia, GTP and ETP

NATIONAL research and development (R&D) centre Mimos Bhd has launched Malaysia’s first national Internet of Things (IoT) Technical Working Group workshop to kickstart the development of the ‘National IoT Blueprint,’ which would be presented to the Government by October.
 
This blueprint would play a key role in shaping Malaysia’s ICT landscape and take advantage of the numerous opportunities offered by IoT technologies, Mimos said in a statement.
 
The two-day workshop brought together representatives from the technology community, academia and government agencies nationwide who discussed how best to address the importance and impact the IoT will have on the country’s economic and social progress.
 
They also discussed exploring collaboration in IoT research, development and commercialisation, Mimos said.
 
Those participating included the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), National Heart Institute, Cisco Systems, Celcom Axiata, Intel, Oracle and Microsoft.
 
“The IoT will inspire new working practices and business processes, spark a new wave of innovation, allow us to penetrate new markets and industries and encourage greater investments in technology,” said Dr Zulkifli Mohamed Hashim, Deputy Secretary General (Science) at Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti).
 
“With the right direction and policies, the National IoT Blueprint will bring about tremendous economic benefits to the country,” he added.
 
The Internet of Things encompasses the integration of enabling technologies – devices, embedded software, connectivity/ communications and information services, among others, Mimos said.
 
It is expected to transform daily life via the application of smart appliances, homes, offices, vehicles, streets and cities.
 
The IoT Technical Working Group workshop was launched under the patronage of the Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, Professor Emeritus Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid.
 
Zakri said the Naional IoT Blueprint would realise the Science to Action (S2A) initiative launched last year by Prime Minister Najib Razak.
 
The initiative aims to intensify the application of science and technology for industrial development and the wellbeing of Malaysians through three key components: Science to Industry, Science to Wellbeing and Science to Governance.
 
“The Internet of Things will also act as Science to Action enablers,” Zakri said.
 
“In Science to Industry, for example, it will realise opportunities in the digital age which in turn can lead to a Gross National Income of RM1.7 billion (US$528 million) and the creation of 14,720 new jobs by 2020,” he added.
 
Dr Zakri said the Blueprint would also complement national transformative initiatives as Digital Malaysia, the Government Transformation Programme and the Economic Transformation Programme.
 
“The Internet of Things will change the digital market and create greater economic value for all organisations and for Malaysia’s economy” he said, adding that the Blueprint would be presented to the Malaysian Government in October.
 
Mimos president and chief executive officer Abdul Wahab Abdullah said the Internet of Things was a logical progression for the national R&D centre after having ‘introduced’ the Internet to Malaysia in 1992.
 
“Mimos has been undertaking applied research in ICT towards raising national competitiveness and to position Malaysia as an innovation-led economy since our inception in 1985,” he said.
 
“It is therefore fitting that we spearhead the IoT initiative with the support from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation,” he said.
 
Mimos launched Malaysia’s first Internet service under its Jaring initiative in 1992.
 
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