Ma: Dr M’s MSC inspired me to set up Alibaba

KUALA LUMPUR: The Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) programme, mooted by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad some 20 years ago, has been instrumental in inspiring the establishment of Alibaba Group, Jack Ma said.

Its executive chairman, here to launch the group’s first office in Southeast Asia, shared this little-known fact about the establishment of his multi-billion e-commerce giant.

“Very interesting. My inspiration came from the MSC. I started my business in 1995, the first Internet company in China.

“I was wondering where to go. How Internet, digital technology can empower the people and society.

“I saw the news about the MSC. I thought, ‘Wow, this is a genius idea’,” he said at the opening ceremony of Alibaba office in Malaysia, the group’s first in South-East Asia.

“I read this news in 1997. If Malaysia could, why not China? Why shouldn’t I start (it) for myself?

“So, Malaysia inspired me on Alibaba. This is a great inspiration of MSC,” he added.

Describing his meeting with Dr Mahathir as “fantastic” and “great”, Ma said he thanked the Prime Minister for his great inspiration (the MSC) during their meeting.

“It was a very good meeting,” Ma noted.

The MSC framework was first conceptualised in 1996 under the then administration of Dr Mahathir to spearhead the digital transformation in Malaysia. E-commerce player Alibaba was established in 1999.

“So I watched (it) for many years. I did not see it (the MSC programme) work out, and last year, I came up with this idea for eWTP (electronic world trade platform) Malaysia.

“This is a 20 year-old dream. We should implement it here. This (eWTP) will make a real Multimedia Super Corridor (that can really) empower most of the small and medium companies, empower the young people,” he said.

Dr Mahathir, Ma noted, was a legend with a great vision and knowledge about technology.

“Ninety-three years old but he knows so much about technology. After talking to him, I should read more books,” he said.

The MSC was spearheaded by the Government to develop an area measuring 15km by 40km into a multimedia hub, encompassing the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Putrajaya and the KL International Airport.

Ma said he shared similarities with Dr Mahathir as they both believed in the Internet and technology, and both wanted to help those in rural areas.

Ma was in Malaysia last Novem­ber to attend the ground-breaking ceremony of the Digital Free Trade Zone, Alibaba’s first oversea eHub under the eWTP initiative, with former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.