The new year began on a sour note for the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). On 20 January, a local Malaysian news portal broke the news broke the news The Vibes Shake-up at MDEC as 8 senior execs quit Read more that more than 10 senior executives had quit the government agency tasked with leading the growth of the country’s digital economy. The latest to throw in the towel was chief operating officer Ng Wan Peng, who had joined the agency in 1999.
Future backward
Born to build Malaysia’s digital future, MDEC is stuck in the past
25 years after its inception, the country’s supposed digital economy driver—Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation—is grappling with dwindling relevance. Its new management is trying to emerge from the shadow of the old, but even that may not be enough
Internally, MDEC CEO Surina Shukri is struggling to steer the 550-strong organisation that’s stuck in old work patterns
At least eight senior executives left MDEC between October 2020 and January 2021, deemed “expected and warranted” by the agency
Externally, MDEC is fighting to establish its focus as newer and smaller government agencies are now specialising in MDEC’s areas of interest
Some of MDEC’s recent programmes haven’t been received well; there seems to be no answer to the larger question of MDEC future path
