Interesting article on malaysiakini.com. Well done Streamyx!

Losing investors due to low Internet speed

Australian companies intending to invest in Malaysia are concerned over the slow Internet speed in the country, says Malaysia-Australia Business Council vice-chairperson Michael Halpin.

Speedier Internet access was crucial to large Australian companies which have a lot of big documents to be sent from here to their headquarters in Australia, he said.

"Some of the technical documents can be very, very large and quite often we find that the documents take a very long time to get through or don't get through at all with the slow Internet speed in Malaysia.

"The Internet speed in Australia is much, much faster than here. Australian and American investors see this as a nuisance and an impediment to them to do business successfully here," he told reporters today.

Asked whether the Internet speed in Malaysia was worse than in neighbouring countries, Halpin said: "Not worse off but does Malaysia wants to be at the same level as them?

"Malaysia has been ahead as the investment destination choice but the difference between Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam has been diminishing."

Crime a concern too

Another issue of concern to Australian companies and potential investors was the security in Malaysia as there have been many news reports of petty crime and snatch thefts in the country.

Halpin however said he did not think Australian companies already operating in Malaysia would not pack up and go elsewhere but it may deter new companies from coming to Malaysia.

"The companies are responsible for their staff and families sent here. The wife of a company staff lost her handbag to a snatch thief recently," he added.

Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim told the luncheon talk that the state government proposed to rope in the local authorities to provide ancillary support to the police who are facing manpower constraints.

He said the state government was taking the security issue seriously and would be given due attention in the 2010 state budget.

- Bernama