KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): Digital transformation and adoption are crucial for Malaysians and the industry to capitalise on new opportunities, said Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). 

In a statement today, MDEC chief executive officer (CEO) Surina Shukri said as MDEC celebrates 25 years of leading the tech and digital industry forward, it is confident that its new agile, streamlined and collaborative leadership structure will enhance its mass outreach and enable it to achieve its vision of a people-first society in the age of fourth industrial revolution (IR 4.0) technology that will lead to shared prosperity for all — or Malaysia 5.0.

She highlighted that MDEC’s "Reinvent" mission includes bringing in exceptional talent with both private and public sector experience, coupled with new approaches and thinking.

“The objective is clear — intensifying MDEC’s initiatives to grow the nation’s digital economy for the many, especially in navigating unprecedented disruption and opportunities in the new norm. The focus will be on enabling digital skills and jobs for the people, enabling digital and technology businesses, accelerating digital adoption and driving digital investments,” she said. 

Surina also reaffirmed that MDEC will not be distracted from its mission and its executive leadership’s close and collaborative working relationship with its chairman and the board of directors to holistically reinvent MDEC for the future. 

Meanwhile, MDEC chairman Datuk Wira Dr Rais Hussin said MDEC recognises and had taken action to bring in industry-focused talent and technocrats to help Malaysia make the digital leap into IR 4.0 as part of efforts to realise the Malaysia 5.0 vision to benefit the many.

MDEC said as it continues to embrace change, it attracts high-performing talent and welcomes vibrant and transformational new hires.

It said recent hires included executives from the private sector and organisations such as Astro, Celcom, Edelman, IBM, Media Prima, Microsoft, Pemandu Associates, Touch 'n Go and technology start-ups.

MDEC also said eight senior personnel had left the organisation since October 2020. 

The eight were Hasnul Hadi Samsudin, Suzana Nawardin, Datuk Ng Wan Peng, Norhizam Abdul Kadir, Nor Faizah Othman, Hew Wee Choong, Abdul Malick Aboobakar and Nordarzy Razak Norhalim.