Rao, Sandhya, & Klopfenstein, Bruce C., Eds. (2002) Cyberpath to Development in Asia: Issues and Challenges. Westport, Conn.: Praeger. [199 pp.]
Internet use around 1999
Musa Bin Abu Hassan. The Internet in Malaysia. In Rao & Klopfenstein, pp. 137-157 [photocopy]. Note: In his own ref. list, he lists himself as Musa A. H. This follows the Malaysian practice of using first names.
A good summary of the media environment, albeit circa 1998-99. Total of 34 dailies newspapers; penetration only 11 percent. Notes popularity of Harakah as an opposition paper. 115 monthly magazines, most in English. Some private radio stations, but must receive annual government license. 70 percent penetration. Numerous TV stations, including 20 via satellite. 90 percent penetration. A 1999 study found 36 percent of respondents had a computer at home, and half of those had Internet.
Telecom services are run by a privatized company, Telekom Malaysia. Cell phone pentration is high, as might be expected, but much higher in urban areas than rural. National Information Technology Council (NITC) includes members from both public and private sectors. Interestingly, they have a domain name (nitc.org.my) but no Web site.
The beginning of the Internet in Malaysia was RangKoM (Rangkaian Komputer Malaysia) in 1987 (see Hashim & Yusof, 1999). Initial users were the universities. Big role for MIMOS. The next stage was Joint Advanced Research Integrated Networking (JARING) in 1991, under which more private businesses hooked up. JARING linked to the Internet in 1992, via a satellite link to the U.S. JARING became the country's first ISP. The third and fourth ISPs (Maxis; Time Telekom) came on board in 1999. One study found that 1.9 million adults in Malaysia owned PCs in 1999. Internet subscribers: less than 250,000 (1999).
50 percent of Malaysia's Internet buiness is in the Klang Valley and a few other urban areas (Musa mentions only Penang and Johor Bahru). Users in 1999 tended to be students under age 30. They said entertainment was their primary activity online, followed by research and communication. Musa is citing a 1999 study by Sinnappan. He also cites a 1999 study by Bengtsson.
Musa notes that in 2000, in addition to fees paid to the ISP (which differed for students, businesses, etc.), one had to pay a RM0.01/minute fee and regular phone charges of RM0.15/minute (p. 149). Internet cafes have become popular, especially among young people.
Description of the MSC: The project "has seven flagship applications that require Internet as and important component" (p. 150); he lists these. Malaysian Civil Service Link: Database of public service information. All ministries and agencies of the government are required to have Web sites. There's also a virtual university, established in 1997. Musa mentions the "smart schools" initiative but does not get into details; also mentions the Electronic Community Resource Exchange, which has conducted several pilot projects; also mentions the expectation that Vision 2020 is expected to increase IT activity in Malaysia.
Three IRC networks banned Malaysian connections for some time, but later allowed the connections. The bans stemmed from abuses "through clones, flooding, and violation of user policy" (p. 154). The Anwar sacking is discussed as a time of increased Internet activity in Malaysia.
"People's disgust with the mainstream mass media had prompted talented and creative local writers as well as computer wizards to set up websites that provide different views and opinions concerning the Anwar issue. These websites, popularly known as Refomasi [sic] pages, grew steadily over the months ... via these websites ... the latest and most controversial news, critical analyses, and gossip are disseminated" (p. 155).
"The articles from these websites were printed, photocopied, and distributed to people in rural areas and to the public at large, especially to those who had no means of getting into the Internet" (p. 155).
A project to set up "Centers for Internet Services" in rural areas was planned. Vision 2020 again. See also MOL.com: apparently a big portal site for Malaysia.