Malaysia Innovation Agency Not Designed To Be A Government Department, Says Najib

PETALING JAYA, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Innovation Agency is not designed to be a government department but rather a "free-hand" organisation with business-friendly orientation, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The Prime Minister said the agency would employ people with experience working in the private and corporate sectors.

"We will employ people from the private sector as well who have experience working in the corporate sector. In fact, some of them might have experience working in the small and medium industries (SMIs) sector.

"So that, when we mould them together, we will get an outfit that understands the problems faced by the business community, including SMIs.

"I would like to make this point to re-assure you that this new organisation will be business-friendly in the sense that it will be staffed by people who have experience working in the business sector before they join the organisation," he said told a question-and-answer session at the Chinese New Year Open House and a briefing on the Malaysia Innovation Agency hosted by SMI Malaysia.

Earlier, in his speech, Najib said all innovation activities would be centralised under a new statutory body called Malaysia Innovation Agency.

Najib said the Bill called "Malaysia Innovation Agency Act 2010", which was passed by the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, would pave the way for the setting up of Malaysia Innovation Agency.

The Prime Minister also said the government was in the midst of drafting the National Innovation Policy, which would provide the framework for the government to become more responsive and simplify guidelines for innovation needs.

"We are studying the innovation eco-system of the country to make changes required so that Malaysia can be an innovative nation," he said.

Najib said Malaysia needed active participation from SME operators who were implementors of innovations.

"The government can provide the playground and facilities, but ultimately, you are the ones who have to play the game. You are the ones who have to win the battles and bring home the revenues," said Najib, who is also Finance Minister.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili tabled the Malaysia Innovation Agency Bill 2010 in Parliament in December last year to establish the proposed agency which would be vested with the powers to develop ecosystem innovations in Malaysia towards achieving Vision 2020.

The agency's main functions are to enact policies and strategies and set the country's direction on innovations, promote and facilitate activities and investment initiatives by the public and private sectors.

Besides nurturing the innovation culture in the public, private and education sectors, the agency will also advise the government on innovation-related matters.

An administrative council chaired by the prime will manage the agency minister. The council members will comprise Science, Technology and Innovation

Minister, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister, Higher Education Minister, Finance, Minister in-charge of the Economic Planning Unit, a chief executive officer and other qualified professionals.

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