BUDGET 2018 : Pikom says TN50 focus will have positive impact on ICT industry

PETALING JAYA: The National ICT Association of Malaysia (Pikom) welcomes the focus on Transformasi Nasional 2050 (TN50), which it said will have a positive impact on the ICT industry with a slew of measures aimed at empowering Malaysians for the future.
It called the government's emphasis on human capital development in 2018 especially on coding in schools; STEM education, with RM250 million for teachers training and RM190 million to upgrade 2,000 classes into a 21st century smart classrooms in order to enhance creative-based learning and innovative thinking.
"We also welcome Capital Allowances for ICT equipment, which will include spending on software development, claimable for a period of four years as this will boost the companies' productivity and reduce the cost of operation, " it said in a statement today.
The other incentives that will benefit the ICT Industry; RM1 billion for Sabah and Sarawak for broadband infrastructure; ICT projects in PDRM of RM170 million and RM100 million for communications systems; RM 100 mil allocation for e-rezeki, e-usahawan and e-ladang; Industry 4.0 and Digital Economy – RM245 million for smart manufacturing; Cyberjaya Futurise Centre to be strengthened; DFTZ focus on 1500 SMEs and RM83.5 million funding and de minimis increased to RM800; and boost startups with setting up of regulatory sandboxes.
However Pikom had hoped that there would be measures to drop the cost of broadband services as well as GST exemptions on ICT products and services, which were not announced in Budget 2018.