By Vignesa Moorthy, CEO and Founder, ViewQwest
Digital transformation has been a key focus area for our nation’s growth in recent years, and we are happy to see this continue to be so in the recently-announced Belanjawan 2023. The emphasis on cybersecurity awareness and fortification, the added SME funding for automation and digitalisation projects, and the committed rollout of 5G networks that will massively grow the data network ecosystem, all support Malaysia’s aspirations for the future.
With the nation having experienced a phase of ‘forced digital transformation’ over the last 2 years, and the economy now firmly in ‘rebuild’ mode, we expect to see areas critical to business digitalisation, such as network accessibility, cybersecurity, cloud adoption, and data sovereignty, being given its due share of attention.
Balancing the line between sovereignty and freedom of access should be better defined within policies, and adequate guidance provided to enterprises to feasibly adopt such policies.
We are now the 11th most breached country in the world, according to Surfshark, which is an alarming position given the size of our digital ecosystem compared to much bigger economic markets. Establishing policies and frameworks for both large enterprises and SMEs with domestic networks that provide greater understanding and encourage the adoption of data security practices will be positive steps towards building a more robust and mature digital economy.
As we continue to rebuild and grow our digital economy, cross-border and global connectivity are critical, be it in technology services, trading partnerships and export markets. The matter of data sovereignty, first mooted by the MCMC in 1998, and more recently identified in the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) 2010, remains loosely defined and enforced.
Balancing the line between sovereignty and freedom of access should be better defined within policies, and adequate guidance provided to enterprises to feasibly adopt such policies.
With the continued rollout of fibre broadband infrastructure and the 5G network, combined with a positive outlook on the economy, we will be seeing many new businesses enter the market in 2023, as existing ones scale up to meet growing consumer spend. Affordable and reliable high-speed connectivity, together with world-class, scalable managed network and security services are an important part of building a strong support ecosystem that lets businesses focus on their core purpose. This is a key driver for ViewQwest’s strategic focus on Managed SASE and SD-WAN solutions that fully converge network and security to address both network performance and security needs of Malaysia’s digital enterprises.
ViewQwest is looking forward to supporting Malaysia in its next chapter of digitalisation and economic growth.
edotco comment
By Adlan Tajuddin, edotco CEO
On Connectivity
“We welcome the RM700 million allocation to accelerate Phase 2 of the JENDELA rollout, as well as the planned RM1.3 billion expenditure by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to expand nationwide 5G coverage.
Connectivity is necessary to ensure participation in future digital economies and to bridge the digital divide, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable sectors of society. Having a robust telecommunications infrastructure in place, coupled with the various cross-sector initiatives announced in Budget 2023 to improve digital literacy, will help level the playing field and ensure no one is left behind as Malaysia advances towards the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.”
“With the stated Budget goal of delivering faster, cheaper and better nationwide broadband to all inhabited areas by 2025, all telecommunications stakeholders must work together to ensure that the national connectivity agenda remains on track. As one of the leading telecommunications infrastructure companies in Malaysia and a proud partner of the JENDELA initiative, edotco stands ready to do our part in supporting the evolution of Malaysia’s telecommunications sector, as well as to amplify digital transformation efforts across businesses, society and the government.
“We welcome the RM700 million allocation to accelerate Phase 2 of the JENDELA rollout, as well as the planned RM1.3 billion expenditure by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to expand nationwide 5G coverage.
On Sustainability
“We applaud the government’s stance that we can no longer assume ‘business as usual’ when it comes to planetary health. The sustainability mindset has been slow to gain steam in Malaysia, so green incentives such as the RM 1 billion allocated under both Bank Negara Malaysia’s High Tech and Green Facility, as well as the Low Carbon Transition Facility, can encourage companies to take the first steps in joining the environmental crusade. Achieving meaningful change requires that all parties are committed to enshrining environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into all aspects of our operations – and lives.”
“It was heartening to see that the government has also approved an increased yearly allocation of RM100 million for the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation, as well as that it will continue to drive reforestation efforts in the forest reserves of Sandakan, Sabah. Biodiversity and reforestation are both close to our hearts at edotco, especially with our recently announced the Bird Watch Pledge in Malaysia and our reforestation efforts across Southeast Asia, so we resonate deeply with these focuses within Budget 2023 and urge full support from all parties in conserving our natural treasures for future generations.”
Aurelius Healthcare
Dato’ Amir Firdaus Abdullah, Group Managing Director & Chairman at Aurelius Healthcare
Aurelius Healthcare commends the healthcare focus in this year’s National Budget 2023 announcement, as the Government has prioritized our Keluarga Malaysia and showcased its commitment to support Malaysia’s healthcare industry. The government’s effort in allocating RM36.1 billion for the healthcare sector—the second highest allocation after the education sector—indicates a focus on the Government’s agenda to nurture the well-being of the rakyat and strengthen the resilience of our healthcare industry.
In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness this October, we applaud the Government’s timely allocation of RM11 million to subsidise mammograms and cervical cancer tests for women. This aligns with our ongoing efforts at Aurelius to encourage all women to get regular screenings, as early detection is key to survival. This month, for the second year in a row, Aurelius Hospital Nilai is collaborating with local clinics to educate more than 1,000 Malaysians on how to accurately conduct breast check-ups. Through our Hunt That Lump awareness campaign, we aim to bring attention to breast and prostate cancer for early detection and prevention.
Hence, we hope that the Government’s allocation of RM20 million to provide additional mental health resources will serve to increase awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
The Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council’s allocation of RM20 million will strengthen our nation’s position as a destination for medical tourists who are seeking to undergo treatment in Malaysia—another welcome initiative. At Aurelius Healthcare, this is in line with our efforts to position ourselves as a destination for medical tourists. Conveniently located less than 20km from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA 2), Aurelius Hospital Nilai offers a convenient experience not just for locals, but also for international patrons from countries such as China, Indonesia, Indochina, and Korea who are seeking first-class medical treatment options in Malaysia.
The mental health of our fellow Malaysians is something that needs to be taken seriously and it is important that we have the essential support needed to facilitate this.
Hence, we hope that the Government’s allocation of RM20 million to provide additional mental health resources will serve to increase awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Aurelius Healthcare strives to transform the healthcare delivery standards in the country and make quality healthcare accessible to all. To achieve this, we continuously improve our facilities and services, as well as attract the best healthcare talent and medical experts. We are supporting the healthcare needs of the country with our first hospital, Aurelius Hospital Nilai and continue our growth with the development of Aurelius Hospital Alor Setar, which is scheduled to be operational by 2023. We believe that public-private partnerships will help to elevate the standard of healthcare services in the country and be a holistic platform to create awareness of healthcare issues and diseases.
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ABOUT AURELIUS HEALTHCARE
Incorporated in 2019, Aurelius Healthcare specialises in primary, tertiary, and quaternary healthcare management and services. Proudly founded in Malaysia through global healthcare management experience, our readiness to offer customised and world-class hospital management for new facilities or modernising established healthcare assets is made possible through our extensive network of in-house industry experts. Aurelius Healthcare’s tertiary hospitals have all the medical and surgical specialities that meet the full spectrum of healthcare needs of local and international patients.
