IBM CONFIDENT LATEST SOLUTIONS WILL APPEAL TO MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT IN TACKLING NKRAs

By Prem Kumar Panjamorthy

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) -- IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd is optimistic its
wide range of Smarter Planet solutions will appeal to the Malaysian government
as they believe the solutions will support the six National Key Results Area
(NKRAs) introduced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

The company's main focus would be to promote their solutions for reducing
crime rate and improving urban public transport in the medium-term.

Its Managing Director, S. Ramanathan, said IBM Malaysia, which has been
operating in Malaysia since 1961, was currently in negotiations with several
government ministries and agencies.

"The response we have received is positive and the government is considering
ways how to implement it," he told Bernama in a interview recently.

In July last year, Najib announced six National Key Result Areas (NKRA) in
the Key Performance Indicators (KPI), including efforts to reduce the crime rate
and the war against corruption.

Other areas were expanding access to quality and affordable education;
raising the standard of living of the low-income group; strengthening
infrastructure in the rural and remote areas; and improving public transport in
the medium-term.

Ramanathan said IBM Malaysia would explain to related parties on the
nation's current situation and changes that can be brought about by applying
IBM's Smarter Planet solutions.

"We are confident this solution is applicable in Malaysia as our solutions
and methods were proven in neighbouring Singapore.

"Although Singapore has gone to a higher phase in managing several key
areas such as its public transportation system and crime rate, Malaysia can
emmulate its neighbour to do the same but it has to start from the bottom," he
explained.

On other segments of the NKRA, IBM Malaysia was already addressing them
especially on improving access to affordable and quality education.

"We have established our brand among the public and private universities by
developing a multi-disciplinary curriculum called Service Science, Management
and Engineering (SSME).

"SSME is an emerging academic discipline designed to develop the skills
required in the world's increasingly growing service-based economies.

"The programme is one of the most sought after course at University Science
of Malaysia and to-date, we have signed up with 20 public and private
universities to develop similar curriculums for them," he added.

IBM's Smarter Planet initiative aims to provide better solutions for all
major segments of public life and the economy.

The Smarter Planet series of solutions, among others, can help achieve
smarter energy usage, enhanced healthcare system, efficient transportation
system.


-- BERNAMA