“While digitization is yet to take off in Malaysia, we are very upbeat about it. As far as content digitisation is concern, MDeC is playing a pivotal role in getting all content to be fully digital,” explains Kamil Othman, MDeC’s Head of Creative Multimedia Department. “In Malaysia, most of the analogue assets are parked in various Government agencies, which requires consolidation and to be fully digitalized. For example, most of the past news and film archives, history and cultural heritage information are situated in Arkib Negara, Filem Negara, RTM, Media Prima and other Government agencies which requires conversion from analogue to digital data. The Government, which has the jurisdiction, should start calling for all the relevant agencies to convert their analogue assets.” However, points out Othman, that given the current recession, digitalization plans may get shelved, in which case the Government will need to allocate budget specifically to digitize all the valuable analogue assets. “Most Government agencies do not have specific budgets for digitization initiatives. This is especially important for RTM and Filem Negara as these agencies hold important old (content) collections. Currently, these agencies are holding most of the important historical footage which are not in digital form. However, Astro is pro-digitalization and making efforts to digitalize all their content. Finally,” warns Othman, “if all the rest do not go digital, they will be missed.” Regarding Malaysia’s biggest media developments, in three years’ time, the Government TV and radio network (RTM) will be offering 19 free-to-air channels through digital terrestrial broadcasting. Former Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said these are being introduced in preparation for RTM going digital by 2012, besides serving as a platform for local creative works to be promoted abroad. This is to get 98 percent of the population to be updated, informed and entertained via 19 digital channels by 2012. RTM will be optimizing its manpower and facilities to churn out round-the-clock news, in-depth news reporting, documentaries and other in-house productions. Further explains Othman, “Malaysia has to be fully digital by 2012 and this should commence now. As for now, the Malaysian Government has yet to construct a Digitalization Master Plan. MDeC is looking into this and planning to draft digital strategy for the country. Currently, in terms of creative content market, MDeC is fully prepared in the digital medium. And with the implementation of High Speed Broadband (HSBB) network infrastructure in Malaysia, digital assets are greatly required.” TVAplus