SERI KEMBANGAN: The Government is adopting a neutral technology platform policy that does not favour either open-source (OSS) or proprietary software.

The cabinet, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis, has decided that government procurement policies will now be based on merit and not on platform choice.

"We want to focus on the development of job creation and industry growth, and as such, would like to be neutral," he said.

"The cabinet wants to encourage the further development of the local (IT) ecosystem with focus on value creation and it is up to the market to decide which platform they choose."

In 2004, the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) launched the Malaysian Open Source Software Master Plan with targets for open-source implementation within the public sector.

The plan was coupled with a procurement policy stating: "In situations where advantages and disadvantages of OSS and proprietary software are equal, preference shall be given to OSS."

"There has been a lot of negative reaction towards open source (from the IT market) and that's why (choosing) the technology platform should be neutral," said Jamaludin.

Whichever technology platform you choose, he said, be it proprietary or open source, does not matter as long as good results are produced.

"Platforms are tools and they should be neutral because in the end tools are just tools," said Jamaludin.

The minister cited the example of a parang (machete) made from titanium and another made of stainless steel.

"If you believe that you can do more using the titanium parang, then use the titanium parang," he said. And if the stainless steel parang serves you better, you should use that.

"It's about choice. Let the market decide," he added.

However, Jamaludin later told pressmen that the neutral technology platform policy does not void Mampu's Open Source Software Master Plan.

"If the market sees value in it (the OSS Master Plan), then it will continue," he said.

Jamaludin was speaking at a press conference during an "open house' hosted by his ministry at the Palace of Golden Horses here on Tuesday.

Earlier, he officiated at the launch of Celcom Power Circle - a platform for local technopreneurs to nurture mobile-content development.

Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly, CEO of telco Celcom (Malaysia) Bhd, said the Power Circle would also act as a knowledge centre where developers will have the opportunity to develop their skills and gain additional market advantage.

"We shall be part of all processes from A-Z. That means from idea generation to design, development, commercialisation and finally, to creating and developing a business," he said.

He said the Power Circle offers a software-powered network, meaning that content developers would no longer need to depend on hardware. This would help lessen capital expenditure in delivering their products.

Outstanding applications would be offered to Celcom customers, said Shazalli, adding that the solutions could also be "exported" to the more than 24.5 million mobile customers within parent company Telekom Malaysia's ventures.