Malaysian PM proclaims success of high-tech hub
Published: 30 Jul 2003 11:45 BST
Critics of Malaysia's Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) project have to "swallow their words" as it has proven to be a success, said the country's prime minister.
The high-tech hub, located near the capital city Kuala Lumpur, is the country's multi-million attempt a creating a concentration of technology companies similar to Silicon Valley in the US.
Tech companies are encouraged to locate premises there and, if they fit certain criteria, are awarded "MSC status" and given financial incentives.
The prime minister declared the MSC a success because it has managed to attract more companies than targeted, according to official news agency Bernama.
The government had originally targeted 500 MSC-status companies by 2003, but around 800 companies have that award now.
"If that is not success, then what is success?" Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was quoted as saying. He was speaking at the opening of the regional hub of Swedish telecoms firm Ericsson.
Mahathir said he did not care for comments made by those who declared projects such as the national car and the MSC "irrational".
"We are familiar with people telling us that what we are doing is wrong but it has been shown that they'll have to swallow their words later on," he said.
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