Petaling Jaya – The Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry Malaysia (Pikom) is disappointed that its call for a single Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry has not been heeded. Pikom chairman David Wong said the organisation now has to ferry between two ministries – the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the newly formed Information, Communications, Culture and Arts Ministry. He said having a single ministry for ICT matters would have sped up procedures for technology companies in Malaysia because there is now overlap between the two ministries. “This would be a pro-investor condition that would likely have helped increase foreign direct investment into Malaysia,” Wong said in a press statement. Pikom is also surprised to find that the country’s communications initiatives have been placed under the purview of the Information, Communications, Culture and Arts Ministry. It said the communications element is at odds with the ministry’s other responsibilities. Wong added that the element is significant since communication is high on the national agenda with the (planned) roll out of high speed broadband in the country, as well as the government’s aim to achieve 50 percent broadband penetration by end 2010. Prior to this, communications was the responsibility of the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry.