An Intellectual Capital Perspective on East Malaysian Development

The three chapters presented in this section address very different economic sectors. Seen as a case, each one illuminates a common understanding about the changing nature of economic development that is especially relevant for the 21 century. Moreover, each in its own way recognises the critical importance of infrastructure, and especially telecommunications, as an enabling technology for development. While industrial parks (IPs), the focus of chapter 12, are not directly involved in either the development or delivery of telecommunications services, their tenants rely on the infrastructure provided by the park operators and the host government. As noted by the authors, sound telecommunications links with suppliers and buyers allow park tenants to manage their supply chains. Chapter 13 examined the potential for information technology to enhance relationships among local authorities and the people, through the useful metaphor of an “electronic government” (EG) that accelerates the development process. The strategic role of telecommunications is even stronger and this was unveiled in chapter 14. In our global village, an offshore financial market is viable only when it is connected to the global information infrastructure, in this case through Malaysia’s planned Multimedia Super Corridor.