Source: KPerak INC Corporation News
IPOH: Several MSC status companies currently operating at the Meru Raya Cybercentre gave the Perak Government the thumbs up for its initiative of turning the state into an ICT hub.
One of the companies, GreenEarth Technovations Sdn Bhd, a major ICT solutions provider since 2003, that has been accredited with ISO 9001:2000 QMS Certification,was thankful to the State Government for embarking on such an ambitious project.“If they had not done so, we would never have been accorded the MSC status,” said its Chief Technology Officer Saiful Anuar A. Rahim. He also described the setting up of KPerak Implementation and Coordination Corporation (KPerak INC), which is wholly owned and funded by the State Government, as the best thing to have happened for the people in the state.
“It is the sole agency or to be more precise, the pioneer in promoting K-Economy in Perak. Without it, we will not be where we are now,” he said. KPerak INC is a one-stop agency, entrusted to ensure the successful implementation of the KPerak 2010:ICT Strategic Blueprint aimed at turning Perak into a knowledge state by the year 2010. Saiful Anuar, however, pointed out that there was still room for KPerak to improve, ensuring MSC status companies like GreenEarth being able to sustain their core businesses.This, he said, was vital as the survival of such companies was totally dependant on the size of users of multimedia products and services. “The awareness on ICT usage is still very low in Perak and a lot more initiatives are needed for the people to embrace ICT as a part of their lives.
Only when this happens will our company be able to grow as more and more peoplewill be seeking our services,” said Saiful Anuar whose company attained the MSC status in August this year.The MSC status is awarded by the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC), a body set up by Malaysian government agency, as part of the Malaysian government’s long-term goals in creating an environment that encourages innovation.The MDC also helps companies, both local and foreign, to reach new technological frontiers by forming partnerships with global IT players and at the same time providing them with the opportunities for mutual enrichment and success. Companies that are eligible to be awarded with the MSC status must be a provider or a heavy user of ICT products and services, employ a substantial number of knowledge workers and contribute to the development of the MSC and the Malaysian economy.
Saiful Anuar also said that Meru Raya Cybercentre was chosen as the company’s operational base because of the vast business opportunities available in thestate. “We noted that the operations of Small and Medium Industries in Perak were still not well supported in terms of ICT facilities.“This is definitely a wise business decision as there are already too many companies offering ICT solutions and services in Cyberjaya and compared with their experience in this field, we are nowhere,” he said. On the incentives provided by the State Government, Saiful Anuar said his company has yet to utilise them fully. He explained that GreenEarth does not want to be aggressive until the market in Perak is ready to accept ICT and incorporate it into their lives.
In terms of infrastructure, he said, the state needs to speed up the implementation of its broadband facilities in order to support the rate of ICT growth in Perak. Hiroshi Industries Sdn Bhd’s chief executive officer Louis Oui agreed with Saiful Anuar and said that a good infrastructure was needed to ensure Perak’s success in achieving its digital agenda.“We need to have advanced broadband applications and services especially at Meru Raya to attract more companies to set up their operations there,” he said.
He also suggested that perhaps it was time for Meru Raya to embark on the second phase of its development plan in order to gain the confidence of investors. He said many investors were still adopting a “wait and see” approach as they have yet to see much physical progress taking place there. “Apart from the Perak Techno Trade building, there is nothing much for one to see in Meru Raya. The State Government needs to speed up things so that people can see for themselves the development taking place there,” said Oui. Meru Raya, spread over 100ha along the North South Expressway near the Jelapang toll plaza, has been recognized as one of MSC Malaysia Cybercentres and will be the base to all MSC status companies in Perak.
“Location wise, Meru Raya definitely has an added advantage because it is located next to the highway,” said Oui who runs a search engine business for products and services. Through its epages2u.com.my website, Hiroshi Industries provides business directory services to the public.“So far there are 3,800 companies advertising their businesses on our website while the remaining are information on government related agencies including schools,” he said. For a nominal fee, company which intends to be listed in the online directory would get a one year advertising period. “For example, someone who wants to advertise its product need only pay RM365 for one year advertisement,” he said. Oui added that the company plans to replace the advertising space offered by newspapers.
Click here to view the Interview movie clip of GreenEarth's CTO, Encik Saiful Anuar by Perak News Online
About GreenEarth
GreenEarth is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions provider based in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia that provides a wide range of innovative, high-quality, yet cost-effective ICT solutions, products and supporting services for organisations of all sizes.
