The Internet is the first major manifestation this new age, the Digital Age - an age where technology often becomes obsolete even before people know how to use it well, where technology is increasing in power not linearly but exponentially.
In 10 years’ time, for instance, today’s Internet will look as rudimentary as the first PCs of the eighties now look today.
As Internet will increasingly become a major distribution vehicle for radio and television programmes, is the Broadcasting Amendment Bill meant to to regulate and control the Internet?
If it is not the intent of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill to control, regulate and stunt the growth of Internet in Malaysia, then let the Minister of Information make a clear-cut policy statement on the issue and let there be a clear-cut provision in the Bill to exclude Internet from coming under the purview of the Broadcasting Amendment Act.
For the first time ever, many people will have access to better technology in their homes than in their workplace or classroom. There is of course a great danger that a new class divide will emerge between the ‘Information-Haves’ and ‘Information-Have-Nots’.
In October 1995, Dr. Pekka Tarjanne, secretary-general of the International Telecommunications Union stated that “Internet advocates boast of having direct connectivity with some 96 economies world wide and indirect connections with a further 77. But this does not make up for the fact that fully 97% of Internet users are based in the high-income countries which account for just 15% of the world’s population”.
Malaysia must avoid the double pitfalls of such a “Information-Rich” and “Information-Poor” divide, by ensuring not only that Malaysia does not fall in the category of “Information-Poor” nations but also ensuring that there is universal and affordable access to Information Technology for all Malaysians so that there is no “Information-Rich” and “Information-Poor” gap inside the country.
This is why it is imperative that the Government should introduce measures to ensure that computers in the home are not treated as a luxury but as an extension of the educational process.
The Government should launch a nationwide campaign to promote Internet usage among Malaysians rather than stunting its growth. In the Digital Age, Malaysians must become life-long learners if they are not to become life-long losers.
In this connection, Utusan Malaysia must be commended for its “Sebuah computer setiap rumah” campaign which should be emulated by all newspapers.
It has been conservatively estimated that by the end of the decade there will be more than one million networks connected to the Internet and perhaps upwards of 100 million people using it. Traffic on the network will exceed telephone traffic. There has never been any technology or innovation in human history that comes close in speed of adoption, significance and impact.
The latest Nielson survey estimates that one in five people in the United States are now accessing the Net. Let Malaysia aim to achieve the target of one in ten people accessing the Net by the year 2,000.
If Malaysia is to take a quantum leap into Information Technology, Malaysians must also make a quantum leap in Internet usage.