Re: [ossig] Govt ICT infrastructure

[Yusseri Yusoff <yusseri@asb.com.my>]

On Wednesday 24 September 2003 20:50, Khairil Yusof wrote:
>
> I couldn't take it last week...
>
> WARNING: RANT
>

<snip>

>
> If you're laughing, don't. All of us make mistakes, and you learn and
> grow from it.
>
> Unfortunately in Malaysia that doesn't seem to be happening. You can
> blow away millions, total failure for a project and still keep your job
> or be promoted it seems.
> 

Long-ish reply.

Two opinions on this:

1. I think that in Malaysia, there is still the element of "gold rush" fever 
when it comes to ICT, in spite of the current slump. The gold here being the 
govt. and quasi-govt bodies' projects. As such, people go through all sorts 
of contortions to get a piece of the action, hence the X, Y and Z company 
example you gave above. Just as the lobbying and marketing efforts can also 
be quite something to behold sometimes.

When I read the websphere example you gave above, I was instantly reminded of 
a few occasions where I was able to observe IBM make a pitch on their stuff 
to potential (govt.) clients. They swept the floor, them guys. Anything that 
would make the pitch better, they'd use it. Nothing wrong with that, though 
it sometimes leave you with a feeling that it's going to be difficult 
convincing the clients that there are better alternatives. After all, php 
just doesn't sound as "enterprise" as WebSphere Application Development 
Platform with Global Support from One Of The Largest Companies On Earth.

So much so, if you're a small ICT outfit trying to make a mark on the local 
landscape, you'll have to turn buzzword compliant and be smart partners with 
the big boys and peddle their stuff, whilst trying valiantly to actually 
figure out what their stuff is AND trying to get a bit of that "gold" in the 
first place. Which brings me to:

2. I think that Malaysia is trying its damnest to reach beyond its grasp a lot 
of the time when it comes to ICT. We have the desire, but not quite the 
capability. There is a lot of (over) confidence in the assumption that we'd 
be a leader in the e/i/k-economy but also a realisation that we're a bit low 
on the talent to achieve it. 

So there's a pell-mell rush into organising, implementing and announcing all 
sorts of ICT initiatives -- MSC, e-Village, Bio-Valley, RosettaNet, broadband 
to the bogs, etc. All accompanied with the assurances that there'll be a 
Transfer of Technology, that it'll give the country a quantum leap, that 
it'll make the world sit up and take notice, etc.

The thing is, the thing is ... a lot of things get buggered up well and good, 
with a lot of charlatans, cheats and swindlers trying to get into the game. 
All the funky projects that just seem to screw themselves up royally, with 
the charlatans, etc. seemingly making a nice packet for themselves.

However, the thing is ... some of the projects do work. Some perfectly, some 
not so. And each time, more people are getting on the cluetrain, more people 
are becoming aware and smarter. I think it's cool.

I just hope it doesn't have to get worse before it gets better.

I had a point to make from all this, but I can't remember now.

Yusseri


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