KUALA LUMPUR, October 15, 2008: As the curtains drew at the end of the Ninth Annual MSC Malaysia Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2008 last week, the 18 winners could reflect with a sense of accomplishment and renewed vitality for the coming year.

The 2008 MSC Malaysia APICTA Awards, themed “Stimulating Creativity & Excellence in ICT

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This year’s MSC Malaysia APICTA Awards received a record 359 nominations for a total of 18 awards, up from the previous year where there were 321 nominations. The range of awards presented that evening was capped by the Prime Minister’s “Best of the Best” Award which this year went to FSBM Holdings Berhad for their UNOS product.

The recipient of the Prime Minister’s “Best of the Best” Award will also attend a week-long entrepreneur development programme at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

In addition, there were also two newly-introduced categories: “Best of e-Inclusion and e-Community” and “Best of e-Health” category.

Winners of this year’s MSC Malaysia APICTA Awards will represent Malaysia at the International APICTA Awards, which will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, in November 2008. Then, the winners will further represent Malaysia at the World Summit Awards (WSA), which will be held in Belgium next year.

On the same note, the winners of this year’s Awards will have the opportunity to undergo development programmes under the MSC Malaysia initiative.

Dato’ Badlisham Ghazali, Chief Executive Officer of MDeC, said “MSC Malaysia will continue in its efforts and commitment, to push the progress and development of our local ICT industry, so that Malaysia can become a true Knowledge-based economy and ensure wealth creation and well-being for the society and businesses alike.”

In an address read by YB Datuk Dr. Maximus Johnnity Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, on behalf of YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia, at the Awards ceremony, he said “I am heartened to note the theme of this year’s MSC Malaysia APICTA Awards – ‘Stimulating Creativity & Excellence in ICT’. Indeed, creativity and excellence, along with innovation, are the new components of economic value in a modern global economy and must continue to be nurtured if Malaysia is to successfully transform into a Knowledge-based economy.”

The winners of the Ninth Annual MSC Malaysia APICTA Awards 2008 are as follows:

  • Prime Minister’s Best of the Best
    FSBM Holdings Berhad
    Product: UNOS
    Having received recognition from three international bodies, UNOS PRO is the first in the world to combine voice, messaging and service deliveries under one platform. It is a mobile phone midlet that allows users to have free push email and free SMS within the worldwide UNOS community, and comprehensive voice features, including a roam free solution.
  • Best of Primary Student Project
    Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Universiti
    Project: Si Tanggang – The Animation

  • Best of Secondary Student Project
    Foon Yew High School
    Project: Remote Rescuing Unit

  • Best of Tertiary Student Projects – Software / Hardware
    Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
    Project: Finger Tracking and Bare-hand Posture as an Input Device Using Augmented Reality

  • Best of Tertiary Student Project – Creative Multimedia
    Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
    Project: An Interactive Augmented Reality Game – 3D Aeroplane Games (3DCoolPlane)

  • Best of Media & Entertainment
    LimKokWing Film & Television Academy
    Project: Barricade by Love Me Butch (music video)

  • Best of Financial Applications
    GHL Systems Berhad
    Product: NetTransact Solutions Suite

  • Best of e-Inclusion & e-Community
    Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT)
    Product: ScreenShield3

  • Best of Research & Development
    GlobalCLAS™ Technology Sdn Bhd
    Product: PICSECUREID™

  • Best of Start-up Companies
    Asia Media Sdn Bhd
    Product: TransNet@KL

  • Best of Applications and Infrastructure Tools
    Arahe Solutions Sdn Bhd
    Product: Arahe SiteCelerate

  • Best of Security
    Nexbis Sdn Bhd
    Product: Nexbis National Security Solution

  • Best of e-Logistics
    BSMART Technology Sdn Bhd
    Product: BSMART Commercial Vehicle Operation Services (b’CVO)

  • Best of Communication Applications
    FSBM Holdings Berhad
    Product: UNOS

  • Best of e-Government & Services
    Sarawak Information System Sdn Bhd
    Product: Integrated Court System (ICS)

  • Best of Industrial Applications
    Devices World Sdn Bhd
    Product: iSCADA

  • Best of e-Learning
    Myfingo Sdn Bhd
    Product: MyVBOT, The Adventure

  • Best of Tourism & Hospitality
    Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
  • Product: Augmented Reality System for Recognising Text on Street Signs for Tourism