Nearly 39,000 SMEs adopt digitalisation through GDPM scheme
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said 2,838 recipients were private clinics and pharmacies, representing about 19 per cent of the sector's operations, based on Malaysian Medical Association data.
"This shows the effectiveness of the GDPM in helping SMEs digitalise their services.
"This year, we are focusing on the health sector, targeting at least 50 per cent of private clinics and pharmacies," she said after launching the Johor leg of the GDPM Fest 2025 in Permas Jaya here yesterday.
The government has approved an additional RM50 million for the programme this year, with RM30 million channelled to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission via telecommunications companies to strengthen SME digital adoption, particularly in healthcare.
The GDPM, or the Madani Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Digital Grant, is a government initiative to help SMEs digitalise their businesses. The grant offers matching funds of up to 50 per cent, or a maximum of RM5,000, to eligible businesses to subscribe to digital services.
It aims to enhance SME efficiency and competitiveness through the use of digital technology.
The effort reflects the government's continued commitment to implementing digitalisation initiatives, a core pillar of the 13th Malaysia Plan.
Teo said digital health records would allow patients to access services across clinics without repeating paperwork, complementing but not replacing the MySejahtera application.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
15 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Businessman, businesswoman nabbed over RM3.6 million false claims
KOTA KINABALU (Aug 12): A businessman and a businesswoman have been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for allegedly submitting false claims involving over RM3.6 million under the Small and Medium Industry (SME) Assistance Programme. Sources said both suspects, in their 50s, were detained around 11am on Tuesday when they appeared at the Sabah MACC office to give their statements. Initial investigations revealed that in 2022 and 2023, the duo allegedly submitted two false claims to the Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR) — one for the supply of retort machines and entrepreneur equipment worth over RM400,000, and another for MeSTI, My Food and Halal certification services worth over RM3.2 million. Sabah MACC director Datuk S. Karunanithy confirmed the arrests, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 18 and Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act 2009. Both suspects were released after paying a RM1,000 deposit each from the RM10,000 bail imposed, and are expected to be charged at the Kota Kinabalu Special Sessions Court for Corruption on Thursday.
New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Judge in Sarawak DAP chief's defamation case ordered to produce judgment
KUCHING: The Court of Appeal has ordered the trial judge in the defamation trial of Stampin MP and Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen to provide the written grounds of judgment within one month from today. This is to enable the hearing of Chong's appeal to be heard. The hearing of the appeal today had to be postponed as the written judgment was not available. "As directed by the Court of Appeal, my lawyers will also be writing to the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak on this matter," Chong said. He hoped to receive the grounds of judgment soon for the appeal to proceed. Chong said the trial had concluded four years ago and "yet there is still no grounds of judgment from the trial judge". In 2012, Chong criticised the state's budget, pointing to what he described as a recurring line item titled "government's contribution towards government-approved agencies trust fund". He argued that this allocation acted as a "black hole" since it lacked transparency as substantial sums in billions of ringgit were transferred without disclosure of the actual recipients or their uses. In 2013, the then Sarawak government and State Financial Authority (SFA) filed a defamation lawsuit against him following his published claims, including in leaflets and news outlets, that RM11 billion in public funds had gone into this "black hole". The suit was filed in the Kuching High Court, and the trial started on Jan 7, 2021. On August 30, 2022, the judge ruled in favour of the state government, determining that Chong's "black hole" remark was defamatory, and that his defences — justification, fair comment, and qualified privilege — did not hold. The judge ordered Chong to pay RM150,000 in damages and RM50,000 in legal costs, and issued an injunction preventing him from repeating the statement. Chong said the trial judge then did not provide the grounds of judgment. "After almost three years from the decision of the High Court judge, or four years after the conclusion of the trial, the judge has not provided the grounds of his judgment. "Over the years, we have written five times to the High Court to request the grounds of judgment, but all to no avail," Chong said. He said because there were no grounds of judgment, his appeal, which was to have been heard today, had to be postponed. Chong filed the appeal on Sept 12, 2022, arguing that allowing the government to sue individuals for defamation was a dangerous erosion of freedom of speech and that the judgment posed a threat to democratic rights across the Commonwealth. The judge who presided over the trial was a judicial commissioner at the time.
The Star
21 hours ago
- The Star
Compliance of drug price display rule at 55%, Dewan Rakyat told
KUALA LUMPUR: Checks during the first three months of enforcing drug price transparency showed that 55% of 1,639 private healthcare facilities nationwide complied satisfactorily, says Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni. The remaining 45% had incomplete or inaccessible price displays, he added. ALSO READ: Drug price display order gazetted, to come into effect May 1 "These findings indicate the need for continued monitoring, guidance sessions and phased enforcement for non-compliant premises," he said during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Aug 12). To ensure greater transparency and fairness in private healthcare pharmacy services, Lukanisman said the Health Ministry plans to conduct a comprehensive evaluation from September. "This aims to assess the impact of the drug pricing policy and guide improvements in the system. "It will inform (these) improvements to ensure transparency and fairness in private healthcare pharmacy services," he added. ALSO READ: Medicine price display rule to proceed on Aug 1, says Health Minister The display of drug prices, which came into effect on May 1 under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Marking of Prices for Drugs) Order 2025, is part of the government's efforts to enhance public access to drug price information. This initiative seeks to ensure competitive pricing and informed consumer choices. From Aug 1, the ministry began inspections and monitoring, issuing warnings for non-compliance, with full enforcement and fines scheduled to commence on Jan 1. The phased approach aims to give private healthcare providers, including clinics, hospitals and community pharmacies, time to adjust and comply with the new regulations. The initiative faced some resistance from non-governmental organisations and medical associations, particularly concerning the regulation of consultation fees, which have not been reviewed for 30 years. ALSO READ: Medicine price display rule to stay However, Lukanisman noted that the ministry remains committed to inclusive engagement with stakeholders, including the Malaysian Medical Association, to address these issues and ensure a balanced approach to healthcare regulation. Addressing concerns raised by Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau) about rising medical costs, Lukanisman highlighted the ministry's ongoing efforts to implement interim Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) systems in private facilities by 2027. "The DRG data will guide private facilities in setting reasonable prices, although it won't regulate profit margins," he said. DRG systems classify hospital cases with similar clinical characteristics and resource usage, allowing for a standardised payment system based on the diagnosis and treatment provided.
