KUALA LUMPUR : The separation of the Communications Ministry and Digital Ministry following the cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday will allow the latter to focus on the digital economy sector.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil yesterday said there was a need to coordinate internal policies to empower the sector.
He said the separation of the ministries came about following a discussion session he had with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's team after finding several aspects that needed to be coordinated during his time helming the former Communications and Digital Ministry (KKD), with the digital economy being previously governed by four ministries.
"In terms of start-up and capital venture, it was under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
"For up-skilling and setting up factories, it was under the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation under KKD at that time.
"Investments came under the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, while reporting involved MyDigital Corp under the Economy Ministry.
"So when discussing with the industry, there were doubts when four ministries handled the same issue. I suggested to the prime minister, 'why not gather the agencies under one ministry?'"
He said this after officiating at the launch of the Reuse, Educate, Nurture and Empower with Waste (Renew) programme organised by the Institute of Continuing Education and Professional Studies of Universiti Teknologi Mara at Dataran Sri Angkasa Jaya here yesterday.
Fahmi, meanwhile, denied allegations that the separation of ministries was to save his political career.
"Some parties accused me of failing to carry out my duties as the communications and digital minister, and (the ministry) was divided to save my career. That is not true.
"If we look at the distribution of agencies, of the 11 or 12 agencies under the ministry, eight remained with the Communications Ministry, and it is nine if you include one outside agency, including the Community Communications Department (J-KOM).
"So the majority is still with the Communications Ministry."
In addition, he supported the views of Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo at the National Digital Economy and 4IR Council meeting on Friday that there was a need to coordinate policies not just through the council, but also in the Digital Ministry itself.
Fahmi expected the final list for the placement of agencies under both ministries to be finalised by the end of next month.
In addition, Fahmi, who is the unity government spokesman, said steps to separate the ministries were seen as crucial because the digital economy's contribution to gross domestic product was expected to reach 25.5 per cent by 2025.
He said it was the same with the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, which was separated into two — Natural Resources and Sustainability Ministry and Energy Transition and Public Utilities Ministry — to focus on certain matters.
"The prime minister stressed that there is no honeymoon period, (so we need to) hit the ground running.
"It means the ministers must do their jobs, so I see this separation as being able to provide focus."
Citing the removal of the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) from the Prime Minister's Department and made the main agency under the Digital Ministry, he said this could raise the standard and position of Mampu in coordinating digitalisation efforts.
He said these efforts reflected the government's priority and focus on digitalisation to boost the economy. --Bernama
