< Vol.19 >
Change
Drawing the attention of the whole world
The end of last year, I visited Malaysia.
Though I have heard a lot of about Malaysia, many tall buildings are
being constructed, and many hotels are opening one after another. It
is very lively town.
Next year, the sports tournament of the British Common Wealth of
Nations is going to be held in Kuala Lumpur. It is the first tournament
in Asia. Since Malaysia used to be a
colony of UK, they seemed to take pride in this work and to work hard
with an air of eagerness. Besides, this event caused them much lively
in various parts.
The reason why I visited there is the proposal at "Asia-Kyushu
Regional Exchange Summit" in Fukuoka last fall. At that time someone
said that we shall exchange of multi-media hereafter including the
meeting of the business person.
At any late, next host country is Malaysia where is drawing the
attention of the whole world on a large scale and unusual multi-media
development plan. So, as for citizen, we wanted to know the actual
circumstances, and visited there.
They would like to transfer the capital one of these days
Their plan is certainly big. They decided the multi-media special
district, 15km x 40km, and established "Cyber Bill" to invite
enterprises there. They would like to start new industry and transfer
the capital one of these days.
On the south side of it, there is a international airport which is
going to start 1998. On the north side, there is the tallest twin
building in the world which is scheduled for completion in 1997 in
capital Kuala Lumpur. As there are these two landmark around this, it
is very easy to find this district. President Mahathir seems to call it
Multimedia Super Corridor.
In fact, a week before we visited there, I heard that the Governor of
Okinawa Prefecture Oota had gone there to inspect this district. And
the group which think about the Kyushu International Airport had gone
there to inspect it to think about the future, too.
Ability for statesmanship
Then I went to the Multimedia Development Corporation which go ahead
with this plan of nation, and called on the president Azzuman.
Though he is a quiet gentleman, he has an atmosphere of the
businessman. Besides he seems to have ability for statesmanship. I
heard that president Mahathir thought highly of his ability and entrust
the big national plan, MSC to him.
The building where he works seemed to have supervised the natural
rubber industry. On the top floor of it, there were panel of exhibition
which showed the way of making the rubber manufactures made from rubber
tree in front of his room. And a sign "Multimedia Development Corporation"
was hang out though it looked hasty work.
The enthusiasm of the country.
Malaysia is trying to change from the country of primary industries to
that of high-tech multi-media industries at a stretch. This building
symbolically shows the enthusiasm of the country.
He was very delight that we called on him. He said "It is wonderful
plan that Kyushu and many part of Asia gather to talk about
multi-media. Be sure to do it! How about holding the arrangement
committee at Lang Kawi Island( I heard that it is very wonderful resort
Island!)?" President Mahathir plays a leader of this national plan, and
people in this country have steady vision of multi-media society for
future. It caused their energy. And this is the reason why all the
American and Japanese enterprises were swallowed by this plan.
We are going to make the vision of the axis of Kyushu Information
which leads the future as well as them.
written by Tooru Ono, the chief of the NEW COARA secretariat
|